“This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.””

Storytelling is an art.  We know a great story when we hear, read, or see one and we recognize a bad one even more quickly. It’s hard to put a finger on what makes a great story, but the power of the story in advertising and getting the message across of out companies, products and services is measurable and should not be ignored.  A question for all of us is if we continue to live in the world of shortening media forms and truncated communication, who and how will the storytellers of tomorrow develop their craft? I’ve recently taken to exploring the middle ground of “long form journalism” and have been looking at companies and people who are interested in this space.  (if you are interested you can check out byliner.com, http://www.tellingreads.com, or deliberateLIFEmag.com) Telling a story that engage the heart and minds of others might well be a resident skill that we want to develop and keep current within our organizations.

Jesus may have been one of the world’s greatest storytellers.  He could hold the imagination and attention of 5000 plus at a time.  He would tell stories that everyday people like farmers and fishermen would relate to and find themselves within the story.  He did not use His stories lightly.  He instead placed them strategically to bring about action and decisions to those he spoke.  If we are to bring glory to God in our work, we must always be ready to tell our own story and stories of how we have seen God work in ours and the lives of others.  Stories are best, when they have been told more than once.  So, today, begin to tell your story.  Practice it and tell it over and over.  We can trust in God that the stories of Him will not fall on deaf ears.

Reference: Matthew 13:35 (New Living Translation)