Thought for the Week
In my fantasy novel The Wishing Map, a fierce impromptu battle breaks out between two groups of naims (gnomes) in the midst of a storytelling contest. One beloved old naim, Tuber, is fatally injured while trying to make peace. His dying words inspired this blog site’s title The Power of Story.
“I never knowed I had Story in me till now,” said Tuber, “Now I know there’s Story in everyone. Tell ‘em,” he begged, “tell ‘em!” He coughed up a mouthful of blood. Thistlecress wiped his chin with her own blood-stained tunic, and tried to hush him.
“Nay, I got ter speak!” he said. “Tell ‘em there’s power in Story…” His chest spasmed. Reetie put her head on his chest. “Power ter heal and power ter hurt,” he went on. He stroked Reetie’s hair. “Tell ‘em ter use their stories ter heal!”
Those who’ve visited this site before know I enjoy provoking laughter. And I do, in fact, believe in the medicinal value of humor. But I’m also touched and humbled when my stories provoke healing tears:
- A teacher who read the post about my mother’s death, wrote to say that it had been “sent” to bring him peace — just two hours before his own mother’s death.
- A woman undergoing a bitter divorce re-blogged my anniversary post. Why? Because, she said, it drew healing tears from her and helped restore her belief that marriage can work and love can actually last.
- Beta readers have reported that my novel Healing River (not yet published) provoked them to forgive people who’ve hurt them. Likewise, the movie version has produced too many stories of healing and forgiveness to count.
It seems Newton’s Third Law of Motion (“for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction”) applies to stories as well. Stories that move us move our readers in the same way and to the same degree.
Conversely, as Robert Frost put it, “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.” So write the truth. You won’t always know when your stories affect others, but when you do there’s nothing better. Still, whether you catch a glimpse or not, trust me, you can…
Use your stories to heal!
I write regularly to the editorial page of my local newspaper. It has a section called “Letters to the Editor.” I’m amazed when someone approaches me and tell me that they read one of my submissions. And I’m even more amazed when they say the letter was just what they needed to hear. Oftentimes, I think people just breeze over my letters and read something better. You never know.
You never do. Just send them off with a prayer.
What a beautiful Post; and the passage from the Wishing Map is really touching because it expresses something that truly pulls at the heart strings. The excerpt alone is empowering.
I agree! 🙂
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Words we can all relate to. There are times when we can use our words for both, but the Bible prefer we choose to heal with them. Simple caring thoughts and actions are important too. Going through the loss of my husband has been sustained through words from a sermon, a blog post, a piece of poetry, an inspirational quote and of course God’s inspired words in the Bible. May the peace and love of God be with you Mitch as you heal from your recent procedure. You are one of those lights that we hope will never go out. God bless you.
Aw, bless you, dear Kathy. And so are you!
Well said!
Thank you, San.
Thanks, Mitch. I love the Robert Frost quote, “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.” I think it’s not just the written word. With stories too there sometimes needs to be tears in the story-teller to evoke tears in the listener.
Very true, Malcolm. Actors, as well.
¡Qué maravilla,, escribes!
Yo quiero leer alguno de tus libros ¿Qué tengo que hacer?
¡Gracias, Ana!
Les informaré a mis lectores cuando estén disponibles.
Thank you for this, Mitch. Sometimes we wonder why we write. This is why.
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Absolutely! Stories open our hearts and minds and break us open sometimes, as they tell the truth of human experience. They also heal us. It’s holy in a way, isn’t it?
It is indeed, Lori.
Such great examples of stories can heal. Thanks, Mitch!
My privilege, Wynne.
Thanks, I am having a lot of problems persevering in a memoir that involves miracles, but also honesty about God’s ways of shaping me up, because the miracles were healing me, a very flawed person.
Sounds like a story many people would benefit from reading, Eileen.
I agree. Our words can help others. We don’t know until we try.
Writing is cathartic, indeed!
*like (my button is not working again).
Terima kasih telah berbagi filosofi mendalam tentang kekuatan cerita! Pengalaman nyata dampak penyembuhan melalui tulisan Anda sangat menginspirasi. Dedikasi menggunakan cerita untuk menyembuhkan luar biasa. Teruslah menulis dengan ketulusan – setiap kata memiliki potensi menyentuh dan mengubah hidup para pembaca artikel2 yg sangat berharga dari anda!
Menanggapi artikel ini, kami menyimpulkan bahwa anda mengungkapkan pemahaman yang sangat mendalam tentang tanggung jawab seorang penulis dan kekuatan transformatif dari storytelling. Anda tidak sekadar berbagi teori, tetapi memberikan bukti konkret bagaimana cerita dapat menjadi obat bagi jiwa yang terluka, jembatan pengertian, dan katalis untuk penyembuhan emosional.
Kutipan Robert Frost yang anda gunakan – “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader” – menjadi inti dari filosofi penulisan artikel indah ini. Hal ini menekankan bahwa kekuatan sejati dalam bercerita bukan terletak pada teknik atau gaya bahasa yang sempurna, melainkan pada ketulusan dan kedalaman emosi sang penulis dan menginvestasikan dalam karyanya.
Pesan anda memberikan dorongan luar biasa bagi siapa pun yang memiliki cerita untuk dibagikan. Dan mengingatkan bahwa setiap orang memiliki “Story” dalam dirinya, dan ketika cerita tersebut ditulis dengan ketulusan dan tujuan untuk menyembuhkan, dampaknya dapat melampaui ekspektasi dan menyentuh hidup orang-orang yang bahkan tidak kita kenal. Ini adalah panggilan untuk menggunakan kekuatan bercerita sebagai alat penyembuhan dan transformasi positif dalam dunia yang sering kali membutuhkan harapan dan penghiburan.
Thank you, Livora. It took me a while to read this since I had to translate it from Indonesian.
Love how you borrow Newton’s Law of Motion – so true! Writing my blog has helped me heal in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I started… to borrow from Frost: it has made all the difference! Fabulous post, Linda xx
Thank you so much, Linda.
Always a pleasure. L xx
So true and so very badly needed today. I have been forced into longhand writing since shattering the ring finger on my left hand an out two weeks ago. It is a different, and somehow more engaged writing process. But it doesn’t lend itself very well to electronic publication. Thanks for YOUR awesome healing work, Mitch!
Sorry to hear about your injury, my Anonymous friend. Although I’m happy to hear you’ve gained something of value from the experience.
My books have won awards but the best reward is a reader who says your book helped me. And it’s really the Holy Spirit. I had a reader tell me that the words on page 132 blessed her. I looked on page 132 and saw nothing earth-shattering. I looked on page 123. Nothing. Page 231. Nothing. Page 321. Nothing. The Lord moves in mysterious ways
I get that, Donita. Sometimes it’s those “insignificant” lines that speak to people.
Mitch, thank you for this topic – Using stories to heal is what Jesus did. As addiction recovery service missionaries we are blessed to tell his stories so our guests can find Healing through the Savior. Last night in our weekly support group I’m certain that healing was taking place as we felt prompted by the Spirit during meditation to relate Peter’s experience, walking on the water, if but just for a moment. I wrote about this in my latest post. Thanks again for this topic.
My privilege, and good to meet you, Ken.
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True words! Your story has the power to heal and motivate. Thanks for sharing
Bless you, Beverley. And good to hear from you!
I love that Robert Frost quote, Mitch.
Me too.
Thank you for the reminder Mitch. It’s easy to complain, but difficult to remain focused on the positive and solutions. That’s why I enjoy your writing and I hope that my words can be a reflection of the love and grace so generously poured out on me. We’re all trying to be mirrors of the light…
Exactly, Gregory. Blessings, fellow mirror.