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The Storytellers

 

Recently I’ve been revisiting old passions: reading books. I remember when I was in high-school when I began to really read literature. I know, it doesn’t sound very macho, however if it was any consolation I was a part of the basketball varsity team! Haha. But I will also note that I was part also of the high school choir and theatre club, so that kind of evens my machoness out eh?

It didn’t take much of literary prowess to impress me. As soon as I had access to the high-school library, I would read anything that would catch my eyes. Some books I loved; some I didn’t even finish. The point of course, I wanted to begin absorbing stories. I wanted stories that would really get me wanting to learn more about it. That was why I fell for Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Tolkien, Neruda and so many others that really embodied what story telling are all about.

Love a Good Story

I love a good story. I’m more proud to have a great story than with anything else I might own, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. I guess you can say that it is imprinted in our genes to retell. Do you know of a culture that didn’t really have a story of its own? Each has their own tales of heroism, death and love; that continues to amaze me even if their stories are so old and sound so impossible. There are still so many more stories that are left to be untold and even more stories that have died out in time and will forever be unheard. That is why I am grateful for those we cling to, no matter what happens.

Gideons Convetion Experience

I was blessed enough to be invited to be the singer for the 2011 Gideons Philippines National Convention just this month. It was such a lovely event filled with kind people who had an amazing passion to do God’s great commission. I loved the fact that they gave me the opportunity to share my talents as a singer so that I could perhaps bless them with my music. Now I know for a fact that my notes during weren’t perfect (I might have even ruined a few songs hehe), but their appreciation told me otherwise. I don’t know if they were just being kind or what, but they were very grateful for my participation. That made my heart swell out of my chest and indeed I was really blessed to have been invited. Although I really felt like I didn’t deserve the greetings and the compliments, I took it in with a humble heart and a fat smile.

But what struck me most about that convention wasn’t about my singing or the applause, rather it was the convention itself. You see, I had to sit at the head table every time I had a number. The convention went on like lectures with a succession of speakers. And every time I had to sing, whether during the first part, middle or the last part of the segment, I had to sit at the head table. I didn’t really mind it although I would’ve appreciated if I received less attention. I kind of wished I was somewhere else; somewhere less conspicuous. But what I didn’t know was putting me there allowed me to witness every story that each speaker had to say. And I have to tell you, that I have heard so many great stories of hope, love and faith that would last me a lifetime. It was such a wonderful experience to have witnessed something as awe-inspiring as that.

Story-Telling

What was so great about that is I got to really put emotion to my music because of their stories. Whenever my seatmate at the head table would ask me what I would sing next, I would always tell them that I haven’t the slightest idea! Well at least not yet. I wanted to wait so that I could pick the perfect song for the topic each speaker before me was talking about. I just wanted my song to reinforce their message. And to my delight, it worked absolutely great. And I owe it all to their stories and also to God who was and forever will be the inspiration.

That’s one of the things I’m really grateful for in my life: the storytellers and their stories. It’s just so amazing how something that happened despite of us, can affect our entire being; shaking us to the very core. That experience reminded me how powerful stories truly are; how they can move us in ways that would really change how we live our lives. To those who have stories in them that are worth sharing, do please tell them aloud. Those who want to share something nice about their day, please do write about it and tell somebody about it. I guess that’s just one way of being grateful: sharing it to someone else. Who knows, some random stranger might come across your story and you’d be a blessing to them too.

Be blessed!

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