“The thing that hath been, is it that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, ‘See, this is new?’ It hath been already of old time, which was before us.” King Solomon
With Solomon’s words in mind, I’d like to tell you a story. The truth of it is eternal, but I’ll tell it without being everlasting.
Once upon a time, a homeless man dressed in worn, ragged layers against the cold wind wandered into a churchyard. Passing under the cross, he walked up to the place where a few cars were parked. There were people carrying things from the cars into the building. He made no request of anyone as he found a place out of the wind and lit a cigarette. One couple invited him inside where it was warm. Another man told him there was a dinner after church and he was welcome to stay.
He was given a cup of hot coffee. After peeling off several layers of clothes, he took a seat in the Sunday School class. He spoke up to comment during the lesson and followed those there into the church where he took a seat on the front row. At times he appeared to hold a conversation with someone no one else could see. After the last Amen, he went into dinner with everyone else and was seated among them.
He stepped outside to smoke and returned to say he was not staying in the area and would be going. He was given food to take with him and invited to come back anytime. The End.
To hear folks in conversation and on social media this little story seems a truly original fairy tale because everyone knows Christians don’t act that way. They are critical, standoffish, superior, and judgmental. This story is not original by any stretch of the imagination or a fairy tale. It has gone on since old times. Neither is this story a rare occurrence.
Writers are admonished to “write what you know”. I’ve done that here. Stories like this one are often missed for two reasons. First, they do not fit the popular narrative of the day. The other reason is that the “authors” of many modern tellings do not write what they know but simply parrot the tales they have heard.
The point I am trying to make is that a good story does not have to be “original” as long as it is the author’s own telling of it. Stories do not have to “fit” anywhere but in the mind’s eye of the author. Tell your story. It will sound new to someone and that someone is the one you want to reach.
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