Blog 287 – 05.04.2016

Everyone has at least one good story to tell and those who have been on the journey for awhile probably have several. One of the things I love most about my traveling life is that I get to meet a lot of people and hear their stories.

I was fortunate to have a Dad who was a great story teller. My Dad said that when he was a boy the chief form of entertainment was sitting around in the evenings listening to stories. To me good books, movies, and songs are not just entertaining stories but stories that make you think, make you cry, make you laugh and encourage you to make that story a part of your story.

Some people believe, “Just one life ’twill soon be passed and only what’s done for Christ will last.” But, I think this life is but one of a million adventures that “the anointed” has had and that all the storied adventures are meaningful and a part of The Great Story.

The title of today’s piece comes from a remark I have heard people say, “What’s your story?”  All but babes and very young children have stories to tell or maybe they do but have taken vows of secrecy and silence so they won’t spill the beans or spoil our discovery of our own stories here. Perhaps that is why they love to hear stories told so much. Our story is shaped and informed by all the other stories we have heard. My mother loved to read. As a child I was a very poor reader but many times I thrilled to hear my mother tell a story from a book she had just read or was reading. I am so grateful that she taught me to love reading. By reading I have filled my heart and mind with other peoples stories, stories that I might otherwise have missed.

Another good line I used to hear when I was a younger person is, “Have you heard any good stories lately?” My friend, Jim, recently shared the story of how he ended up in South Korea instead of South Vietnam. His brother was already serving in South Vietnam when Jim finished his Army training and received orders to go. Jim knew that Army policy at that time was that they were not allowed to send two brothers into a combat zone without the second brother signing a waiver. Jim told the Army he’d be happy to go if they would send his brother home. They said, “No way” and sent Jim to South Korea instead where he ended up signing a waiver anyway to go on patrol missions into the (DMZ) Demilitarized Zone and into North Korea. Ten men from his unit were killed in action in Korea while thousands more were killed in Vietnam. Jim and his brother made it home after missing two Christmases. Their parents did not celebrate those missed Christmases while their boys were away at war. But it was like Christmas when their boys came home to them bringing the two finest gifts a parent could ever hope to receive.- their children home safe and sound.

Thanks for sharing part of your story, Jim.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White