🖋 a good story: reflection on the nature of stories
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." ~ Philippians 4:8
dear friend,
On a final note of reflection: is it any coincidence that our God has communicated redemption and hope for us through a written story? His Word is truly the most ultimate piece of literary storytelling. Thus, the Scriptures are a pattern for every good story that follows; An echo of the Author Himself.
Author Flannery O’Connor once acknowledged in her Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose, “There is something in us, as storytellers and as listeners to stories, that demands the redemptive act, that demands that what falls at least be offered the chance to be restored”. This is perhaps why Daniel Taylor states that we must insist on the existence of “a good story in this cynical age”. Good stories must be sought out for the sake of the hope they offer through their truthful expression about reality.
What makes a story not only worth remembering, but worth rereading? It certainly is not the moral “goodness” or “pureness” of a book that makes it stand out as a gem to the reader. In fact, one grows bored with stories that hold no conflict and no inner turmoil for their characters to wrestle with and move past. However, it is not moral “evil” either that makes us desire to hear a story again. When a story only offers darkness and no deeper meaning besides suffering, it ensures itself to never be liked. A good story must have a balance of both. But why? O’Connor’s quote on redemption is the driving factor for why we enjoy stories that expertly mix the good and the bad in a way that accurately reflects our own life and emotions. We know we have fallen; we know we are flawed, and so we desire hope and reassurance that all is not lost to desolation— that the light is, in fact, stronger than the darkness. All of humanity has a hope for the better, for the positive outcomes, for the “luck” that might come their way. We all seek answers to our big questions that may lead to greater hope.
However, we do not wish for fakeness, flattery, or untruths; this is where stories often fail. Taylor writes, “Any story is true, fictional or otherwise, that testifies accurately to the human condition. Any story that does not is false, a waste of time, and potentially dangerous”. This is why ‘fluff’ stories are generally disliked by genuine lovers of literature: they are untrue to reality in their idealism. They offer no real need for redemption, and therefore nothing substantial enough to lead their audience to hope. In Taylor’s opinion, it is the cliche that presents itself as “the great enemy of truth” and stories. It trades the substantial for the superficial, exchanging truth and potential for lies and the dull commonplace. Readers wish to see the reality they experience with fresh eyes. They wish to ponder another’s thoughts, experience another’s life, and be actively engaged with an alternative reality.
So, a good story must be written well, with believable characters, true scenarios, and understandable reactions and emotions, but above all: it must accurately portray the moral reality in which we live. There is bad, evil, and suffering; none of us can escape running into them in our lifetimes. However, we are also living in a reality with true goodness and tangible hope. We can be redeemed from the shattered, confusing reality of this world, and we wish for stories to assure us of this fact. From Christian author Chawna Schroeder in her essay, Darkness in Fiction: How Dark is Too Dark?, she states,
What makes a story not only worth remembering, but worth rereading? It certainly is not the moral “goodness” or “pureness” of a book that makes it stand out as a gem to the reader. In fact, one grows bored with stories that hold no conflict and no inner turmoil for their characters to wrestle with and move past. However, it is not moral “evil” either that makes us desire to hear a story again. When a story only offers darkness and no deeper meaning besides suffering, it ensures itself to never be liked. A good story must have a balance of both. But why? O’Connor’s quote on redemption is the driving factor for why we enjoy stories that expertly mix the good and the bad in a way that accurately reflects our own life and emotions. We know we have fallen; we know we are flawed, and so we desire hope and reassurance that all is not lost to desolation— that the light is, in fact, stronger than the darkness. All of humanity has a hope for the better, for the positive outcomes, for the “luck” that might come their way. We all seek answers to our big questions that may lead to greater hope.
However, we do not wish for fakeness, flattery, or untruths; this is where stories often fail. Taylor writes, “Any story is true, fictional or otherwise, that testifies accurately to the human condition. Any story that does not is false, a waste of time, and potentially dangerous”. This is why ‘fluff’ stories are generally disliked by genuine lovers of literature: they are untrue to reality in their idealism. They offer no real need for redemption, and therefore nothing substantial enough to lead their audience to hope. In Taylor’s opinion, it is the cliche that presents itself as “the great enemy of truth” and stories. It trades the substantial for the superficial, exchanging truth and potential for lies and the dull commonplace. Readers wish to see the reality they experience with fresh eyes. They wish to ponder another’s thoughts, experience another’s life, and be actively engaged with an alternative reality.
So, a good story must be written well, with believable characters, true scenarios, and understandable reactions and emotions, but above all: it must accurately portray the moral reality in which we live. There is bad, evil, and suffering; none of us can escape running into them in our lifetimes. However, we are also living in a reality with true goodness and tangible hope. We can be redeemed from the shattered, confusing reality of this world, and we wish for stories to assure us of this fact. From Christian author Chawna Schroeder in her essay, Darkness in Fiction: How Dark is Too Dark?, she states,
"For in reality, light is always stronger: no amount of darkness can extinguish a flame, no matter how small. [...] Evil always has chinks in its armor, and if we can see these, hope and light are ignited. But if they remain hidden, a lie of evil’s strength is told."
Light shines all the more brightly when it is placed in a void of darkness, thus a truly good story offers hope amid evil and displays the truth that redemption from our own evil is possible. When a story accomplishes this, it reflects our own lives and shapes us to know and believe in reasonable hope. That is the greatest help stories have in our lives.
When a story presents reality as a whole, it should portray both good and evil, fulfilling that deep yearning for redemption shared by storytellers and readers alike. We should be insisting that good stories persist in this age, because how else could we have true hope? How else could we grasp and survive the maze of morals we live in? It is the good stories that remind and revive us in our current existence that truthfully— realistically— there is hope for redemption.
When a story presents reality as a whole, it should portray both good and evil, fulfilling that deep yearning for redemption shared by storytellers and readers alike. We should be insisting that good stories persist in this age, because how else could we have true hope? How else could we grasp and survive the maze of morals we live in? It is the good stories that remind and revive us in our current existence that truthfully— realistically— there is hope for redemption.
On a final note of reflection: is it any coincidence that our God has communicated redemption and hope for us through a written story? His Word is truly the most ultimate piece of literary storytelling. Thus, the Scriptures are a pattern for every good story that follows; An echo of the Author Himself.
What are your thoughts?
love, tabby.
love, tabby.
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