Woman at the Well of Story by Susan Valiquette

It’s my 53^rd birthday and we are all going to the Moth storytelling event at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix. It is a monthly treat for me to listen to the stories of individuals who vulnerably tell their own stories. This month I don’t have to go solo. I was not prepared to put my name in the ‘hat’ and tell a story that evening, even though my friends were encouraging me to do so. I did, however, take on the challenge of writing a story and sharing it with my friends over dinner. I followed the ‘rules’ of Moth. I told a story that was mine and kept to the theme and designated time. The theme was ‘leftovers’. My story was from childhood memories. It was not riveting or even very memorable to my friends, but it would have sparked a lot of memories for my family. It was more a story of nostalgia. My brother took to the story wholeheartedly and responded with enthusiasm in his email reply. This was completely unexpected given that we don’t speak very regularly.

Following my nostalgic story of ‘leftover change,’ he insisted that I ‘do my homework for life’. I had no idea what he was talking about. The next email said, “You gotta read ‘Storyworthy.’” I am still lost which I explain to him. He promises to buy me a copy of the book and have it delivered. It is not reminiscent of my brother. The book arrives and I start reading immediately as I can’t wait to learn what ‘doing my homework’ means.  The author, Matthew Dicks, has won the Moth storytelling like some 35 times. He holds storytelling workshops, and now I am reading his book and learning how to tell a story.

My colleague, Doug, has been modeling and telling me this for some time. “Stop preaching Susan and tell a story.” This is the kind of confidence that I wish I had. After a few classes with Liz Warren and listening to incredible seasoned storytellers, I am led to the conviction that we remember stories, not sermons. How can I be a storyteller too? How can storytelling become more integrated into my preaching? After one opportunity to tell a story in Liz Warren’s class, my confidence grows.

The Sunday’s scripture is the woman at the well. It is my favorite story. I could tell you the story without reading it. I could give you commentary for as long as you could listen. This story is the reason I still believe. So, I imagine everything I can about this woman from the biblical story that has been written and create a story of transformation to replace the sermon. I step forward to the center of the sanctuary, no notes, no script and I begin the story, “Neska had finished all the water the previous day . . .”