Once upon a time…. The beginning of our story is of course an unseen, unknown thing: the glimpse of life in the heart of God, an after dinner gleam in mom and dad’s eye, perhaps a turning toward the promise of new creation.

Story usually means an account of significant events in a life. Elton Trueblood wrote The Common Ventures of Life concerning birth, marriage, work, and death as dimensions of many of our lives. And, for most of us most of the time, storytelling is recalling the big parts of individual life in those and other dimensions.

Your individual story is, at best, the painting and poetry of God’s loving you into life. Who did or said something that awakened a hunger and thirst for Something more than hand to mouth existence? What events said to you that your life matters, is even worth enough to die for? What told you that God is looking around in your soul to find a place to enter and love even you? What has happened in your life because Jesus was and is and will be? As some say, what is your testimony?

But, as Trueblood suggested, your story is not just your story is it? It is the story of all you have loved, those you have left, your helpers and your enemies, and all the forgotten faces which have crossed your path and affected your life.

Your story is in some irretrievable sense the story of us all. That is the glory and the tragedy, the beauty and horror of story. Because our story has the power to give life but also to take life, to lift up but also to beat down, to heal but also to hurt.

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35.) Not because you preach well, or have good church programs, or become an eloquent apologist for the Gospel. Not even because you tell your story well. But if you love, if you move toward loving as you have been loved in Jesus Christ, then your discipleship gives life. And not just to your immediate surroundings. Loving creates life energy that makes a difference in the world.

I am retiring from parish ministry (though I will continue to provide spiritual companionship and direction.) But it is never time to retire, even in death, from life, from love, from the marvelous adventure of growing up into Christ in all things.

For this walk with family, friends, fellow pilgrims—this earth story is the beginning of eternal life.