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There is power in the gift of just listening.
But the fact is that Christians are called to an incredibly deep form of community; and one of the things that is most missing in recent years towards that end is that we neither know how to tell or listen to stories.
HOW TO LISTEN TO A STORY:
- Do NOT listen for a "point." (There might be one, but art that exists only to "make a point" isn't art, no matter how masterfully executed--it's propaganda.)
- Do NOT listen for whether the storyteller is on your team or not, or points of validation of your worldview. This is a big challenge these days, and Christians in particular are susceptible to this trap; we're so used to our books and movies and TV shows coming from "the other side" that we can get a little too excited when we discover an artist is a believer, or a little too skeptical until we do.
- Do NOT listen in order to critique. There are times for that and you can always do it later, but you can't do it fairly if you haven't truly experienced the story first.
- DO give of yourself. Allow yourself to be immersed in the story if you can; to see the world the storyteller describes through the protagonist's eyes, to go where the storyteller wants you to go--allow the story to be a story, not a delivery vehicle for something else.
- But DO listen for truth. Not necessarily of the moral takeaway variety (although that too may sometimes be there), but in this sense: listen for moments that give you glimpses into reality. You've experienced truth in a story, not when you realize The Point, but when you think, "I think I just SAW something."
How to Listen to a Story — Anselm Society
Tips from Brian Brown from the Anselm Society's Storytelling night.
www.anselmsociety.org
But, of course, to tell a compelling story, you must have someone to listen. Knowing how to listen to others’ stories is just as important as being able to tell your own story. When we listen, truly listen, to someone else’s story, we understand who they are in a new and different way, we hear their perspective, their interpretation, their understanding of the world and of themselves. Closely listening to others’ stories creates a shared moment of compassion. Learning how to tell you story is a critical social tool for individuals; listening to others’ stories builds community.
Listening to Stories: The Power of Story Circles
Story Circles build compassion and connection during challenging times.
www.psychologytoday.com