As we continue to explore the power of our stories and the ways in which God invites us into His story, we come to a crucial aspect of any good story: metaphor. In fact, stories are often extended metaphors, just as metaphors are often concise narratives. Storytellers utilize this powerful tool because metaphors can accomplish more than straightforward facts or simple statements can.
Metaphors--in which two unlike objects or actions are linked together--give us a picture of another world, helping us to visualize the invisible, inviting us to imagine how these two unlike things are actually related. We can see this all over the Bible, especially in Jesus' teachings about the kingdom of God.
"To what shall I compare the kingdom of God to...?" Jesus often asks before he goes on to give a metaphor of what the kingdom is like. A pearl. A treasure hidden in a field. A mustard seed. A bit of yeast. Each of these "likenings" are meant to say something true about God's kingdom by speaking to our hearts and playing with our imaginations.
But what about our own lives? How can metaphors help us to understand God's story better? How can they help us tell our stories in ways that open up others' hearts and--dare we say it?--change the world?
If we believe God is still active and alive in our world and in our lives, let us wonder about the ways He is and wants to speak, not only to us, but to others. Think about something you are learning in life at the moment. Or consider a recent lesson you've learned about God or yourself. What metaphor might you use to capture that reality, that truth? Is there an image, or perhaps another story, that could bring a new perspective on your experience?
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