Love: Storytellers I Love

Art has a way of bringing truth in through the backdoor. In other words, if I was to tell you something uncomfortable, yet true, I could say it to your face. Say the words as clearly as can be, and you could choose to ignore me. Or I could write my message in big letters on cardboard, stand on the corner outside your house, and yell at you as you passed by. Chances are though, it would only shut you down.

But if I painted you a picture.

Sang you a song.

Told you a story.

Rather than reason with your logic, spoke to your emotions. Treated you as a friend, rather than an adversary, I have a feeling you would respond differently. We’d have a real conversation. And we could better navigate the tension together, because we had connected on the level of our souls. We’d see each other, not just our opinions.

When we live in the world of talking points and platforms, our humanity gets lost. All the beauty, virtue, and potential inside of us is missed. All because we can’t see beyond our own side. This is why

We need storytellers.

Why, we need to tell stories. So that we can remember the good God has put in one another. To recognize we’re all carrying the heavy burden of living in a broken world. And, that we have more in common than we realize.

Today, I want to invite you to think about the storytellers you are listening to. Are they artists? Or are they politicians? Not, if they agree with you on everything, but rather, can they be trusted?

Also, I want to share with you a few of my favorite storytellers. People who are using their artistic gifts to speak truth in love, to our world. Do I know if I agree with them on everything? No. But I can point out their good work to you today, and show you where they are helping me see our world with more love and less hate.

Storytellers I love:

Esther Havens is a humanitarian photographer who has worked on social awareness campaigns all over the world to bring clean water, education, and jobs to some of the most remote areas of our world. Over the last ten years, she has traveled to over sixty nations, and through her photo’s captured the strength and beauty of people in hard circumstances. Her Instagram account is inspiring.

Amena Brown is a spoken word poet, who rhythmically speaks to our human condition. She is also an author and speaker, and through each role tells stories in ways that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. She makes us lean forward in our chairs, and pay attention to life in a way we need.

Mat Kearney has been one of my favorite singer/songwriters for over a decade now. Sometimes he raps, and other times sounds like Coldplay, but more than anything, he is a storyteller. Whether taking on social issues, giving us words for our own hard stories, or even offering the perfect fun song for summer, Kearney is bringing light to our world.

Brene Brown calls herself a researcher storyteller. For over the past sixteen years, she has studied courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy in our culture. Through her findings, she has been able to point out the harmful stories we’ve been living, and help us see the beautiful story that is possible for all of us. Her books are phenomenal. I especially recommend her last two.