Today we’re going to talk a little more about telling our stories from the perspective of actually doing it.
Sometimes beginning with a metaphor can help you think of helpful ways to tell your story to others.
As we all remember from school, metaphors are “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.” (The Oxford Dictionary).
Sometimes it can be difficult to describe a spiritual theme or experience, which is why metaphors can be helpful when we tell our story of what Jesus has done in our lives.
In fact, Jesus used metaphors all the time in His teaching:
John 6:35: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry.”
John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 15:5 “I am the true vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.”
From his article “Jesus and Metaphors”, Dr. Philip Irving Mitchell says:
“When Jesus made these statements about himself, he tapped into the particular power of metaphors. He compared himself to bread, to a shepherd, to light, to a vine, because such likeness allowed him to say complex things in a fairly simple manner. Paul Ricouer has noted that metaphors have a “surplus of meaning.” They don’t just say one thing that can be put into other words; instead, they offer a kind of overflow of additional suggestions and nuances.”
If you’re having trouble putting your story into words, prayerfully ask God for help, maybe even for a metaphor as a start.
As an example: “when I met Jesus, it was like waking up from a long sleep that I didn’t know I was having.” Sometimes beginning with a metaphor can help you think of helpful ways to tell your story to others.
“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
Luke 12:11-12 NIV
