Family stories mean more than what is being expressed in the "text" of the story. Forget about whether they are factual or not... they are an expression of reality for the story teller. I am reminded of this by an email that Leigh just sent me. She remembers some of the events surrounding by brother's death a little differentlty.
Regardless of what actually happened, I remember it in a certain way. In some respect-- I can only remember the events of that day by looking through a very narrow keyhole into my past. I know that there mistakes in the record--mistakes that I will do my best, over time to correct. Not today though. Writing about that night helped me work through this week. I feel like it is time to breathe in and to move on. Writing can certainly be therapy, but I don't want mine to always be so.
Reflecting on this theologically, I wonder if the scriptures can be understood better as family stories rather than just a book accounting the events of our forbearers. If so, we must ask different questions of the text. Not: is it fact--provable--verifiable? But instead: How does that make you feel? Why is that important? Who is this a story about? What is being expressed? What insight does it give into our family dynamics?
Your family has a story, of which your life is only a part.
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