A powerful story in itself has the potential to move listeners and awaken the soul to look within. We grew up listening to stories. We have so many stories for the toddlers like the fox and the crow; the hare and the tortoise; the lion and the mouse with moral at the end. While we grew up we read novels and now we entertain ourselves with live stories at the theatre and serials at home.
I happened to observe a child while the teacher was engaged in tutoring the child. The teacher was preparing the child for the next day’s exam. I paused for a moment before I could proceed. The teacher asked her: what do you have tomorrow? The child just made the sound ‘chuuu’ with her shoulders raised and pout. It went on for some time. The portion was not there so finally the tuition teacher contacted the class teacher and did the needful.
I went near to the child and asked her with a smile: Baby, does your teacher do ‘chuuu’? Looking at me with sparkling eyes, she repeated the same act. I continued: Is it your companions in the class? (She made the same sound). Or is it your mummy? Again, in a split of a second the sound and action was noted! I said: surely she is imitating someone and it’s not been noticed nor has she been corrected or paid attention.
At the end of the day her dad came to collect her. He too was in the dark and had no idea of what I was saying. Maybe her mother, as most of the time she is with her while I am at work or someone in the class whom she is imitating. Nowadays, I said: the children don’t need theory at home of the ‘should do’ and the ‘don’ts’..! How much you tell them they will not listen but what you do that they will imitate. Most of us have heard the story of the boy who was preparing a wooden vessel, when asked by the parents what he was doing, pat came the reply: when you grow old like grandpa, I will give you food in this plate!!! So, a life of witness is the sign of the hour. Someone known said to me: “what, he himself remains sleeping, what right he has to correct or tell us…”?
The following Sunday after mass, I met the mother. While interacting gradually I related the incident that I had observed and enquired. She unconsciously did the same sound and the action! Thus, I understood that the daughter was imitating the mother every time she had to reply, which in fact unconsciously had become a compulsion and was having a negative impact.
Stories are powerful. They connect you to similar situations you have gone through or seen and observed or have had positive or negative results. Stories heal the wounded self while slowly tears run down from our eyes..! Let the tears run deep… it soothes and restores health.
It is said stories are priceless possessions which give valuable messages from which the listeners can draw what suits them and mend that which needs attention. The insight, knowledge and human connection fostered through effective storytelling is an invaluable asset.
Jesus conveyed messages, guided and related to people using stories/parables.
