Story Telling, Story Catching

Can you tell that it’s really cold outside this morning? Look at this goldfinch’s fluffed out feathers

Last week I began an online experience like no other experience I’ve had online. I joined a 21-day group where members receive a prompt each day to tell a story related to the prompt. The group is called a “Story Pod” and we have members from 27 countries around the world.

Story Telling

The 21-day experience (it’s not a class and I don’t know what else to call it) is sponsored by an organization called ServiceSpace.  There is no cost to join the group and all leaders and facilitators of the group are volunteers. I participated in the first online call a week ago on Sunday and was surprised at how connected and held I felt during the experience. When we divided into small groups on Zoom to respond to a question, I felt a sense of generosity, deep connection and respect. It surprised me at how easy it was to talk with total strangers about deep feelings and tender experiences.

The daily prompts have not been easy to respond to. Sometimes I look at the question and think, “I’ve got nothing,” but as I ponder the question, it calls me to go deeper and deeper to respond. I did not participate in yesterday’s Zoom call but just finished watching a video of it. Once again the generosity of spirit, deep caring, and respect came through strongly.

Story Catching

The stories others post responding to the daily prompts are moving and tender. It would take all day to read every single post by members in the group, but fortunately after the third day, we were divided into smaller sub-groups. I now try to read all of the stories submitted each day by members of my subgroup.

The following poem was shared during yesterday’s Zoom call recording that I just finished listening to.

Mercy

She asks me to kill the spider.

Instead, I get the most

peaceful weapons I can find.

I take a cup and a napkin.

I catch the spider, put it outside

and allow it to walk away.

If I am ever caught in the wrong place

at the wrong time, just being alive

and not bothering anyone,

I hope I am greeted

with the same kind

of mercy.

   — by Rudy Francisco

Happy Accident

The funny thing is, I don’t know why I signed up for this group. I follow blog posts sponsored by ServiceSpace (Daily Good, Awaken, and KindSpring) but have never joined any of their online groups. Somehow I read about this pod (that’s what they call this group) and thought, “I need to do this.” I am feeling like I have found world full of kindred spirits and am interested where this might lead me.

Speaking of story telling, story catching, yesterday I met on Zoom with a group of women I’ve been meeting with for many years. Our focus has been on supporting and encouraging one another in our creative journeys, though we have become good friends as well. The power of our conversation yesterday, the stories told, the love and sharing, the deep presence and listening, and compassion moved me deeply. What a gift!

What stories are you telling in your life? Are you also a story catcher — someone who listens without preconception or judgment, making space for meaning making, connection and love?

May you walk in beauty.

Note: I couldn’t resist photographing this bright fluffy goldfinch at the feeder this morning. Hope he brightens your day.