EVERYONE listens to stories – stories of princesses,dragons, heroes, monsters, dangers and homecomings. Through these stories we come to understand who we are, where we belong and what the world is like. We learn that it can be wonderful and at the same time dangerous. We learn about faithfulness and courage, love and forgiveness.

Stories are memorable in a way a list of instructions isn’t. But some stories tell a tale that does great damage. For example, some stories that nations tell themselves allow for the destruction of a group of people in their midst as somehow “not belonging”. Other stories that individuals tell about themselves can be damaging because they lead to a loss of self-worth.

Jesus uses stories as he tells the good news of God’s delight in creation. Too often Christian teaching is interpreted as holding that if something bad happens to someone or a group, then they must have deserved it. The view that is commonly held, is that God brings misery as a means of punishing wrongdoing. Jesus is unequivocal about this – ‘No’. He tells people that they should all repent and change their lives in order to flourish.

The stories that we tell need to be stories of patience and possibility. So to the mourner, we can say God loves the one who has died and will hold them and all those who grieve. So to anyone cast out by their community, we can say God accepts you wholeheartedly and we will stand with you and affirm you. To our country we can say that God delights in justice and mercy and longs for this country to grow in wisdom. We need to tell stories that bring God’s shalom and not human mistrustfulness and despair.

Rev James Pitkin

Vicar of Lockerley, East Dean, East & West Tytherley