Storytelling for Week 2: True Love

From a young age, when I walked in a room people took notice.  I never knew how beautiful I was until I got older and more and more stares were directed towards me.  They were never stares of astonishment; it was more of a mesmerized gaze upon strangers' faces.  I truly did not want the attention.  I was known for my beauty but no one had ever wanted to speak to me or get to know me underneath the surface.  I was the younger of two older sisters who were not known for their looks but seemed to have life going for them.  We came from a prestigious family where we were expected to marry someone of great potential.  My two sisters had married, one to a lawyer and the other to a doctor.  Our parents were proud of them but concerned for me. 

My father became so worried that he took it upon himself to see a Palm Reader.  On the evening of this day, my father returned home with a saddened look on his face.  He told our family that the Palm Reader had a terrible vision.  Because of my beauty, no man would be brave enough to approach me or feel worthy enough to marry me.  I was destined to be alone for the rest of my life.  As my parents and sisters mourned for weeks over my predicament, I turned to a higher being, God.  I did not know much about God but decided to invest my time in something since I would be alone forever.  I studied the Bible and learned how to pray and through that process I developed a relationship with God, my heavenly father. 

My parents' concern remained constant for months.  They were especially concerned about how calm I was during this revealing of my future.  I told them about my newfound faith in God and how I had learned that it’s okay to be alone and that you are never really alone when you have God.  I also had developed an understanding that I am a precious child of God, a beautiful creation made specifically from his hands out of love and care.  What earthly being would ever love me the way God does?  A mere mortal would never know my heart the way God did and be able to pursue a relationship with me.

When I became set in my faith and accepted that it would be just God and me for the rest of my life, I had a peace within me.  I knew that no matter what, God would take care of me and provide for me.  Soon after this revelation, a local farmer approached me on my way to the town's market.  He began to talk to me about the produce he was selling at the market and was genuinely interested in getting to know me.  He never once commented on my looks or seemed afraid to speak with me.  I had never experienced an encounter like this and was not sure what to think.

A few days passed and I had not given the event that had happened previously much thought.  One evening, the young farmer came to my house.  Shocked, I invited him in and immediately questioned his behavior.  He wanted to get to know me, he wanted to pursue something deeper with me, and he saw something different with me.  Never once did he mention my beauty.  He truly wanted to get to know my heart and was willing to be patient and loving through the process.  As I shared the news with my family, my heart filled with joy.  I turned to my loving God in a dark time and he showed me what true love was.  I was content with who I was and had learned how to live by myself.  Through that, God provided me a man who was not prestigious but was loving and true and that is what is really important in life.

(Cross: Deviant Art)

Authors' Note: I based this story off of Cupid and Psyche's love story.  I wrote it in first person because I found it easier to tell the story as if this was something that I was going through.  Although I am not the world’s most beautiful woman, I find it important that men and women should see beauty beneath the surface.  I am also a Christian and this made it easier for me to write a story of things that I have learned based off my beliefs like Psyche's belief in the Greek gods.  I wanted a love story that showed we do not need a significant other in our lives but if we become confident in who we are we could be confident with someone else also.  I chose the reading section of Cupid and Psyche, The Oracle of Apollo , to coincide my story with.  In this part of Cupid and Psyche, the Gods tell Psyche’s dad that Psyche will have to die in order to have a husband.  They must send her away to the Gods for her to be married.  Although this does not seem like a terrible situation, it was devastating to Psyche and her family.  However, because Psyche trusted in the Gods to take care of her, she met and fell in love with Cupid.  He loved her for who she was and they had a happy ending.

Bibliography:

Cupid and Psyche, The Oracle of Apollo
Apuleius's Golden Ass, as translated into English by Tony Kline (2013).

Storytelling for Week 3: The Diary of Jesus

Entry 1

Today I met a man named John.  He took me to the Jordan River and baptized me with the water and declared that the Lord would baptize me with the Holy Spirit.  After my baptism, the Lord declared himself as my Father! 

I had wandered all the way from Nazareth in Galilee alone in this life, and now I have found that I am the Son of God. Now that I have learned of this new information, my Father is sending me to the wilderness for forty days and forty nights to test my faith and trust in him.  I am nervous because I am new to this faith.  How can I resist temptation when it will be so present???

Entry 2

I survived in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights while being tempted by Satan. It was one of the toughest challenges in my life but with God’s love and care I made it through.  I am glad to be back in civilization but being in the wilderness really made me grow in my faith. When I got back I found out that my friend John was arrested and taken to prison.  It is now up to me to travel and spread the word of God.

Entry 3

On my way to Capernaum I met some great guys: Andrew, Simon, James, and John. I called them to come share the word of God with me and they followed!  We went to the synagogue where I preached and then we went to Andrew and Simon's house to heal their mother. After I performed this miracle, people began to bring me all of the sick and diseased to heal them.

Entry 4

My friends and I have moved on throughout Galilee.  Today I encountered a man who was infected with leprosy and because he believed in me, I was able to heal him. I told him to not speak of this event because I do not want people to think I am any better than anyone else. However, he went and shared the story to all people.  Now everywhere I go people know my name and know of my healing touch.

Entry 5

It has been a few days since I’ve written.  I have been performing many miracles in hopes of spreading the belief in God.  I have also found another disciple, Levi.  However, now people are beginning to question me.  They question that I eat with tax collectors and talk to sinners.  Aren’t we all equal in the eyes of the Lord?  Doesn’t he love us all?  I have also been questioned about fasting and healing on the Sabbath.  It does not matter what day it is; I am still the Son of God.

Entry 6

Today I have officially found twelve disciples to follow me and spread the word of God: Simon, James, John, Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thaddeaus, Simon, and Judas.  I will teach them to heal, cast out demons, and share the word of God through my actions and through my parables.

Entry 7

A tragedy happened today.  King Herod heard about the works of my disciples and was not pleased that my name is now as famous as his.  He sent an executioner to behead John the Baptist and delivered the head to a girl.  How awful??! At least John is now in Heaven with the Lord our Father.

Entry 8

Although we have mourned the loss of a friend, we must still teach about the word of God.  After our teachings we attracted a crowd of five thousand who were hungry.  We only had five loaves of bread and two fish but with the help of God, I was able to feed all the people!  Today my heart has been filled with joy.  I love seeing people happy and full of belief in God.

Entry 9

Several days of healing those that are sick and performing miracles of casting out demons have passed. Today I will teach the people many things that are relevant to their lives.

I will teach on divorce and adultery. I will also remind those that worldly possessions can become idols hindering their way into the Kingdom. I am trying to teach through the love of my Father and can only pray that the people will hear him through me!

Entry 10

The Passover was today and the disciples and I had The Last Supper.  I gave them bread and wine in resemblance of my body and my blood.  I also had to break the bad news to Peter that he will disown me in the near future.  He needed to be prepared although he did not take this well.

 Entry 11

Today I was arrested. The prison guards have allowed me to keep my diary to write in.  They have taken all of my other belongings and secluded me from my friends. Judas led the bad guys to me; I do not know why he would do that to me! I thought we were friends.  Many people spoke a false testimony against me, accusing me of things I did not do or say. It is so hard to have people against you.  I just want them to know the love of the father.

Entry 12

I know I will soon be crucified for the people have disowned me because of the word of God.   As I await my crucifixion, I have come to terms with my death.  I was placed on this earth for a purpose: to share the love and word of God.  

I know that my Father will continue to save the people and to use me. One day I will rise again and continue my journey in this world to lead people to my loving Father, the Lord our God.

(The Last Supper: Wikipedia)

Authors Note: I chose to write a diary style for the Gospel of Mark.   The Gospel of Mark is primarily a story written by Mark who is a follower of Jesus and was inspired by Peter’s preaching.  He writes about Jesus and the miracles he performs, the parables he teaches with, his death and resurrection. I thought it would be fun to write it from Jesus' point of view.  There are so many things that went on in His life during this Gospel that he must've needed to write it all down in a diary!  I also tried to use twelve days to symbolize the twelve disciples that were chosen during this book of the Bible.  I had a hard time with writing more about Jesus’ thoughts and feelings toward certain people and situations.  If I were in his shoes, I know I would be very frustrated, tired, confused, angry, and happy!  However, we are often taught in church and the Bible that Jesus was pure love.  Was he ever mad at God or someone else?  Did he ever cry or ignore what others were saying to him?  These are questions that I cannot answer and therefore I could not portray the emotions and feelings of Jesus in his diary.  However, I tried to use emotions that I thought that I would feel if I were in his situation.

Bibliography:

The Gospel of Mark

King James Bible 1611