The Impact of Stories

Stories and values are the catalysts of change.

Refugees, from https://www.crs.org/

Sharing our personal stories

and listening to the stories of real people

and how they are affected by events and suffering

makes the issues real.

Relationships with people move us to

open our eyes,

widen our perspectives,

and work for individual and systemic change.

As I have been listening to the political rhetoric surrounding the upcoming election, I, like many people, am disillusioned and frustrated by the mud-slinging and hate talk. In a sense, it makes me reluctant to even participate in the electoral process.

But then as I am interacting with people and hearing the stories of their struggles, concerns, and hopes, I realize that I am growing in awareness of the issues in the process of developing personal relationships. As I hear the personal stories and talk with people affected by homelessness in my support of and work with Mel Trotter Ministries in Grand Rapids, the concept of homelessness becomes my concern for Delia [name changed] and her children who lost their home and Roger [name changed] who was hot and thirsty as he stood on the street corner. As I listen to their stories about how they are affected by the issue of homelessness, the issue becomes personal for me.

When I met Mariam [name changed] and her family who fled their home because it was overtaken by war and violence, I became intimately aware of the struggles of migrants and refugees.

Drought in Ghana, from https://www.crs.org/

And as I hear the stories of my global brothers and sisters and their children who are affected by the effects of climate change, including flooding, drought, wildfires, and intensifying storms, the issues of promoting clean energy and food for peace programs become more and more critical to me.

It is when we listen to the stories and open our hearts to compassionate consideration of the actual, individual and collective struggles of our neighbors that we begin to develop personal connections with them. Then the issues are no longer just conceptual, but they become particular and real.

Let us move beyond the rhetoric of identity politics that has polarized our country, our communities, and our families. Let us dig in and truly listen to the stories of the individuals who live in our local and global communities and allow the issues to become real and personal. Then let us vote and act to make a difference in the lives of the marginalized and for the betterment of our world.