The most powerful and influential position in any society or civilization is as a storyteller. These storytellers are not just the mythical cultural icons who dress up on Thursday afternoons and read stories to your children in local libraries and bookstores. Musicians are storytellers, and politicians are storytellers. Screenplay writers are storytellers, and business leaders are storytellers. Teachers, preachers, nurses, lawyers, pastors, priests, scientists, salespeople, artists, mothers, fathers, poets, philosophers, brothers, baby-sitters, grandparents . . . we are all storytellers.
The future belongs to the storytellers. The future belongs to us. What will the future be like? Well, that depends very much on the stories we tell, the stories we listen to, and the stories we live.
Stories have a remarkable ability to cut through the clutter and confusion and bring clarity to our hearts and minds. Stories remind us of our values, aims, and goals. Stories sneak beyond the boundaries of our predudices to soften our hearts to a new truth. Great periods in history emerge when great stories are told and lived. Stories are history that form the future. Stories are prophecies set in the past.
Stories are important.
Stories are as essential as the air we breathe and the water we drink. Stories captivate our imaginations, enchant our minds, and empower our spirits. Stories introduce us to who we are and who we are capable of being. Stories change our lives.
If you wish to poison a nation, poison the stories that nation listens to. If you wish to win people over to your team or to your point of view, do not go to war or argue with them -- tell them a story.
All great leaders understand the persuasive and inspirational power of stories. When did you last hear a great speech that didn't contain a story?
A story can do anything: win a war, lose a war, heal the sick, encourage the discouraged, comfort the oppressed, inspire a revolution, transform an enemy into a friend, elevate the consciousness of the people, build empires, inspire love, even reshape the spiritual temperament of a whole age.
Sixty-five percent of the Gospels are stories -- parables. The other thirty-five percent is the story of Jesus Christ.
We are the storytellers. What type of stories are we telling? I promise you with absolute certitude - the future depends on the stories we tell. The future belongs to the storytellers. What will your story be?
MATTHEW KELLY

I love stories . . . living stories . . . and while I am hearing as well as living with and into some new ones these days . . . I carry many of yours with me . . .

I feel sooo rich!

Deo Gratias!