storytelling

For the past few days I've continued doing morning readings in Galatians along with Luther's commentary, but have neglected to do evening readings from the daily office, until tonight.  The readings for this evening included:

• Psalm 105
• 1 Samuel 8
• Acts 6.15-7.16
• Luke 22.24-30

Psalm 105 is a psalm of praise that retells all the mighty acts of YHWH on behalf of his people.  At a certain level it could be seen as nationalistic writing meant to bolster the hopes of the Israelites--but there isn't even a hint that the ancestors were anything special other than they were chosen by YHWH.  He is always the one doing the action, always the hero.  Acts 6 is almost an echo of this kind of storytelling as Stephen (my namesake) is filled with the Holy Spirit and recounts for the Jewish leaders the history of YHWH's work in their midst.

Thankfully, in recent years much of the western Church has realized that 'telling the gospel story' doesn't mean saying, 'Jesus died for your sins so you can go to heaven'.  However, as I read these passages this evening I found myself wondering if we've really gone far enough in our understanding of the holistic gospel story (seen traditionally in the arc of Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration).  It feels like we're getting a grasp of the outline, but we've yet to really dive into the story with all of its earthiness and all of its ambiguity.  

I wonder, as we plunge deeper into the grease and grime and glory of the gospel story, will that compel us to get greasy and grimy ourselves in the retelling of it?  And how are we to form ourselves and our people (or, more appropriately, allow ourselves to be formed) in such a way that we understand that the retelling of this story isn't relegated to Sunday morning's like some children's circle at the local library?  How should our accountants and software technicians, doctors, lawyers, baristas, musicians, painters, and plumbers go about retelling the story in their work, families, drinking, and dancing?  

I, for one, don't think I allow myself enough storytelling, and I want to recapture that sense of wonder.