A Better Story

Since hearing Donald Miller speak at the next gen summit last year about our lives in terms of narrative, my perspective has been tuned into the quality of my own story. This theme of our lives as stories is repeated in The Sacred Romance by John Eldredge and Brent Curtis as the authors encourage their readers to see their lives in terms of the grand story of redemption. One thing I enjoy about Eldredge's writing is his use of dynamic quotes, and this book is no exception. The one that stood out to me this time is from Shakespeare's Macbeth:

I am sick at heart...
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time;
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound a fury,
Signifying nothing. (Act V, Scene V)

Although this sounds like it could have been written by Sartre or Camus in an attempt to convey existential angst, it challenges my life to act today to connect my life to a story bigger than my own day to day appetites and routine.

The only problem with this life as story concept is that in order for my life to be a good one, there must be significant conflict. I don't know how ready I am for this part of the drama.