By Archbishop Tlali Gerard Lerotholi from Lesotho
Everyone has a story to tell. Unfortunately, there are not enough listeners. One’s story is indeed his-story (history). No wonder people love to tell their stories. The art of storytelling is as ancient as humanity itself and it will endure as long as humans live. We live on stories and we are shaped by the stories we hear and tell. There is always a pressing urge in every person to tell a story about oneself, others, nature, events, or even imaginary world.
Stories are truly interesting. They are personal, authentic, and educational. They transcend and transform our lives by crossing boundaries which constrain and limit them. They are trans-cultural and cut across generations. They transmit cultural, ethical, and religious values. They provoke curiosity and compel repetition. The Bible is such a fascinating story of God’s love to humans that no one tires reading it. We find resonances to own life experiences in it.
Stories are contextual. They make a lot of sense when told and understood in a certain context. The current health crisis of COVID-19 pandemic, calls for us to tell each other stories of how we cope during these challenging times. We all have a different story to tell, but there are also convergences.