Narrative and Listening

[Akita Suggagaki]

There is power in the gift of just listening.​

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But the fact is that Christians are called to an incredibly deep form of community; and one of the things that is most missing in recent years towards that end is that we neither know how to tell or listen to stories.​

HOW TO LISTEN TO A STORY:​

• Do NOT listen for a "point." (There might be one, but art that exists only to "make a point" isn't art, no matter how masterfully executed--it's propaganda.)
• Do NOT listen for whether the storyteller is on your team or not, or points of validation of your worldview. This is a big challenge these days, and Christians in particular are susceptible to this trap; we're so used to our books and movies and TV shows coming from "the other side" that we can get a little too excited when we discover an artist is a believer, or a little too skeptical until we do.
• Do NOT listen in order to critique. There are times for that and you can always do it later, but you can't do it fairly if you haven't truly experienced the story first.
• DO give of yourself. Allow yourself to be immersed in the story if you can; to see the world the storyteller describes through the protagonist's eyes, to go where the storyteller wants you to go--allow the story to be a story, not a delivery vehicle for something else.
• But DO listen for truth. Not necessarily of the moral takeaway variety (although that too may sometimes be there), but in this sense: listen for moments that give you glimpses into reality. You've experienced truth in a story, not when you realize The Point, but when you think, "I think I just SAW something."

How to Listen to a Story — Anselm Society

Tips from Brian Brown from the Anselm Society's Storytelling night.

www.anselmsociety.org

But, of course, to tell a compelling story, you must have someone to listen. Knowing how to listen to others’ stories is just as important as being able to tell your own story. When we listen, truly listen, to someone else’s story, we understand who they are in a new and different way, we hear their perspective, their interpretation, their understanding of the world and of themselves. Closely listening to others’ stories creates a shared moment of compassion. Learning how to tell you story is a critical social tool for individuals; listening to others’ stories builds community.

Listening to Stories: The Power of Story Circles

Story Circles build compassion and connection during challenging times.

www.psychologytoday.com

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

What is narrative-based medicine?​

What is narrative-based medicine?: Narrative-based medicine 1

To raise awareness of narrative-based medicine (NBM) as a valuable approach to the consultation, which, if practised more widely by GPs, would convey considerable benefits to both patients and physicians.Principally, the perspectives of 2 of NBM’s ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Of course, "listening" and "reading" are closely related. We read scripture. And I am beginning to appreciate more all that we bring to it. I am just discovering the study of communication theory and how it involves hermeneutics, the complex relationships between author, text and reader. The amazing and down right mystical things that happen in that encounter.

Close Reading:
There is no such thing as the one “true” meaning behind a text, so any interpretation which can be supported by the text’s specific details is valid. Don’t worry about arguing for the “correct” interpretation of a text or passage and don’t be afraid to be creative in your analysis.

https://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/tutoring/documents/writingareahandoutrevision/literature/Close-Reading.pdf

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Live Virtual Group Sessions in English, Italian, Greek, Spanish, & Polish

In attempt to foster social connections and offer space for engagement and reflection during these uncertain times for our global community, we are offering virtual versions of traditional narrativ…

narrativemedicine.blog