Faith
Why I Write: The Power of Story in the Human Narrative
Years ago, when I was traveling to different churches and seeking a job as a youth pastor, I ended up at a fairly conservative Baptist church. I don’t mean to pick on that denomination, but while there on my interview, I was put into a bit of a bind by a particular question I was asked in front of a group of parents and students. “Do you think it’s OK to watch rated R movies?”
The reason this question proved to be so awkward was that it’s loaded with assumptions, and implications for the wrong answer. It also is the kind of question that makes people look at Christians all goofy. As a guy that wasn’t quite out of college, and a month or so from getting married with absolutely no job prospects, I wanted to be sure to answer in a way that both represented me truthfully and somehow appeased her and any that were listening so I could get the stupid job. Because, hey, we all need money, and making money doing the thing you want to do is preferable.
The funniest thing about that question is that the answer has become one of the things I’ve set my future plans on.
First, let’s back up a bit. I’m a Christ follower. Some of you might not know that, if you only know me from the Intertubes. For better or worse, I don’t make a big deal about it on the Web. This site is an attempt to change that a bit, as I’ve recently made a commitment in my life to draw a line between my faith and my writing. This doesn’t mean that I write cheesy “Christian” stories, if Seven Sons or Web Zeroes are any indication, just the same way that I don’t only read or watch Christian things.
And this is where the movie thing comes back in. I’m a heavy believer that all truth is God’s Truth, with a capital “T”. Let me unpack that a bit more: I feel that every story worth reading and writing is one that is a spoke off the hub of the human narrative. And I believe the human narrative is this: that we are a people that ultimately want to be reconciled to God. Packed within that greater tale are stories about redemption, grace, forgiveness, good and evil and all kinds of other things. Now, that isn’t to say that these great stories are “Christian” or “spiritual” stories, exactly, but that they function in a role that connects us to the real story, the one that we are taking part in every day. Knowingly or unknowingly, storytellers have the power to transport us to a realm where we see into the truth of things, and we connect with that at the core of who we are. That’s why movies and books can affect us so deeply.
And really, I think that when you recall the best stories that you’ve seen or taken part in, nearly all can be traced back to the human narrative in this fashion. I’ve always asserted that Harry Potter’s story of redemptive and sacrificial love is one of the most modern Christian tales I’ve had the pleasure of reading, simply because it is talking about genuine love being the power over death, rather than some remote and far off Disney love. Likewise, Star Wars is about the fall and redemption of one Anakin Skywalker. Even tales that dive into the darkest parts of human nature, such as one of my favorite movies Magnolia, weave a story about the idea that when things go to complete crap, there is still hope.
The list goes on and on. Any story worth its weight in gil (that’s Final Fantasy money for you folks keeping score at home) taps us in that place that is most meaningful and mysterious, and stirs something up. Some of you would call that good writing, and it’s that for sure. But it’s also something more, something deeper. The good news of the Gospel of Christ is that our sins no longer count against us, and I think we all yearn to know that. And each time a story taps into that, it’s like an IV line that goes straight to that part of us. To me, it’s why we all get so rattled by universal themes like the transformational power of grace, the struggle against a palpable force of evil and also the idea of reconciliation, whether it be man to one another or man to a higher being.
Because whether you believe that he was who he said he was or not, the idea that Jesus was God in a human suit becomes more interesting when you consider that he chose to tell us about himself and his nature not through a list of dos and dont’s, but through stories and parables. Sure, Jesus did some preaching, but his primary tactic of revealing “things-you-need-to-know-about-me” was done through the use of stories and metaphors. To talk about being kind to others, he spoke of the parable of the good Samaritan. To demonstrate God’s love he talked about a woman finding a lost coin, and a father reuniting with a son that fled and squandered his life and his riches. I think the idea of God communicating through stories is terribly fascinating, and I think He does this everyday through the media we absorb, the games we play, and the things we read.
You may not agree that these ideas mean that there is a capital “T” truth out there, and I’m not really trying to convince you of that. I’m just outlining the reason that I write, and what I feel like I’m supposed to do with my life is tell awesome stories. And hopefully, those stories turn out to be spokes off that hub that I mentioned earlier, stories that make people laugh and think about friendship, sacrifice, love, etc.
I’m sure this sounds a little loopy to some folks out there, but I’m not writing this to defend my faith or even in the hopes that people agree with me. I’m not really looking for that validation. The temptation for me right now is to keep talking about how I reconcile some of the things in what I write with my faith, or about how all this is heavily influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien’s essay On Fairy-Stories, in defense of the fantasy genre as a whole and how it most accurately represents reality… But I think I’ll save all that for another post. There’s plenty of time to go into all of that later.
Instead, I’ll ask the question: what are the stories that have affected you most significantly, and why?
Discussion
6 comments for “Why I Write: The Power of Story in the Human Narrative”
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Great article Eddy. I would have to agree with you entirely. The best stories to me not only speak on those themes, but engage me in them to a point where I ‘feel’ the power of the theme. Lord of the Rings, Schindler’s List, United 93, are just a few of the stories that tend to overhwhelm me and engage me in their redemptive storylines. It reminds me of a C.S. Lewis quote that I would adapt to the best of writing,
““An “impersonal God”– well and good. A subjective God of beauty, truth and goodness, inside our own heads — better still. A formless life-force surging through us, a vast power which we can tap — best of all. But God Himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord, perhaps, approaching an infinite speed, the hunter, king, husband — that is quite another matter. There comes a moment when the children who have been playing at burglars hush suddenly: was that a real footstep in the hall? There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (“Man’s search for God!”) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us?”
I really enjoyed reading this Eddy. I can’t tell you how many times my seminary professors used the word ‘story’ or ‘narrative.’ It would have made a great drinking game. If they wanted to be really sophisticated they would talk about the ‘drama’ of the Christian faith.
As for stories that have impacted me; I recently read The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck. One of the characters in the story, Preacher John Casey, goes through a spiritual transformation that reminds me of my own faith journey. Casey becomes disillusioned with the faith of his youth, and rejects it outright. But, throughout the story he sort of rediscovers religion as he experiences the struggles of the poor migrant farmers in California. In the book, he kind of becomes a Christ figure, when he is killed by police for leading a peaceful protest against local farmers who are exploiting the migrants for cheap labor.
A story that has probably affected me most was Watchmen (graphic novel, although the movie was pretty good). It showcased the scum of this earth with cities overcome by greed and selfishness. It was really a depressing story but was told so well and has so much philosophical meaning that there is even a book called the Philosophy of Watchmen. Oh and btw great article.
I have a great deal of respect for you, Eddy. Not only are you involved with some of the most awesome projects the Internet has ever seen, but the bravery it must have taken to come online and write all that inspires me. I’m an aspiring writer myself, and I agree with a lot about what you’ve said about God and how he weaves his lessons all throughout life. If all goes according to plan and I become a real author, I’ve always thought about how I would mention God in my stories without weirding people out. Because it seems like so many people hear something about God anymore and then shy away. I’d like to write sci-fi/fantasy as well, so we’ve a got a lot in common. Especially after reading this article! It always perplexes me to talk about God and my beliefs even when just talking to people, because in truth I’m not much of a church-goer. But I try to be a good person and have faith. It keeps me up at night sometimes.
Anyway, I’d agree that Harry Potter influenced me a great deal. I hated how a lot of faiths branded it as a sinful story, just because magic was involved. Just like you said, it’s about love, sacrifice, loyalty, friendship, and the line between good and evil. The Left Behind books also left an impression. While they got a little too preachy for me at times, they were still excellent books and made me think about myself a little bit more. Other than that, Stephen King has the most impact on me, I’d say. Not only is he my favorite author, but he shows how characters can be both good and evil at the same, tells amazing stories, and keeps the dialogue real for the most part.
One thing I always thought was interesting was video games. With video games, you can have a story that audiences immerse themselves in. Assassin’s Creed, Mass Effect, Fallout 3, and Grand Theft Auto would be on the top of that list.
What kind of video games had stories that effected you?
Hmm, well that’s going to be a tough one. There were many stories that have altered the course of my life one way or another. Short stories, novels, movies, even video games. But I think the kind of stories that have impacted me the most would have to be those which show that there are moments in your life that are worth living for even if they don’t last long.
Now as to why such stories move me, I guess it stems from the need to find an answer to that ultimate question that each individual person strives to discover in their own way: What is life? It is in those stories that I found my answer.
Memorable moments are just chapters in this great book we call life. Once a chapter ends, on to the next. We can always go back and see what pages were read, but there will always be more to remember as we continue. There may not even be a happily ever after, but that doesn’t really matter as long as there is something to look forward to.
Like what Jeremy Irons said in The Time Machine:
“We all have our time machines, don’t we? Those that take us back are memories. And those that carry us forward are dreams.”
Now to be specific about which stories that have impacted me in such a way…
Short Story: The Moon is Drowning While I Sleep
Novel: The Catcher in the Rye
Movie: Lost in Translation
Video Game: Chrono Cross
Thanks for the great comments, all.