Why Stories Trump Statements

Last updated on: December 22, 2014 at 8:42 am by Tod Worner

Why Stories Trump Statements 2014-12-22T08:42:15-06:00 Tod Worner

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Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me by Fritz von Uhde

“A story is a way to say something that can’t be said any other way, and it takes every word in the story to say what the meaning is. You tell a story because a statement would be inadequate.” – Flannery O’Connor

Eighteen years ago I fell madly in love. Her name was Cari. She had long, auburn hair, high cheekbones, dancing blue eyes and a smile that could light up the room. Her laugh was infectious, her demeanor poised, and her confidence was deeply attractive. It was Christmas break and we had returned to college to take part in a peer advising training seminar. Though we traveled in similar circles, we had never met before. And I was smitten.

We became friends and “colleagues” in various college endeavors. We volunteered together, emcee’ed a campus-wide show together and went to no small number of parties together. Our winding road, ostensibly platonic, saw her dating some and me dating others, but ultimately we fell in love with one another. Through graduate and medical degrees, fellowships and residencies, we arrived at the altar of a Catholic Church, stunned to find ourselves so blessed with each other.

Now we have two young daughters. And if and when I am asked to describe how I met and fell in love with their mom, words will surely fail me. How do you put into words what can only be expressed in pure and overwhelming feeling?

By telling the story.

Is it any different for our Catholic Faith?…

For more of my latest piece, please read the rest at The Catholic Thing

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