Chapter 2

God’s Story, and Our Story

  • Does God exist? It’s a good question, which most people eventually ask, often in the privacy of their own soul.

    But there’s a second question most of us ask, too.

    Why do I exist? The very improbability of our existence is so unimaginably high that a mere number—say, a probability of one in a billion—would not even be able to capture how utterly strange it is that we exist at all.

    You didn’t invent yourself any more than I invented myself. We didn’t choose to be born who we are, nor did we choose when, where, or why. We were simply dropped into this planet in the middle of some story that was already unfolding. That story began long before we entered the stage of history and will continue long after we are gone.

    How do we make sense of that big story? And, for that matter, our story, too? Why is the very concept of story so central to how we understand ourselves?

    Continue reading in The Christian Faith as a Way of Life

Spiritual Formation

  • Genesis 37, 39-45; Ruth 1-4

    These two compelling stories fit into a larger narrative of God’s redemptive work in human life. What do you learn about the human experience of uncertainty and suffering in these stories, which Joseph and Ruth faced without knowing the outcome. How might their experiences speak to your story? Think about one line that appears several times in the Joseph story: “And the Lord was with Joseph.” Each time it appears Joseph had no evidence in his life that it was true. But it was true!

  • We think in terms of narrative. It is in our nature. But the perspective by which we understand the story of our lives might not be true or helpful. Are you aware of the narratives that keep playing in your head, always on repeat? What is the story you tell yourself about your past, present and future? How does it affect your work, your family life, your response to setbacks and suffering, your friendships, your hopes and aspirations? How you view yourself? Is it a narrative of heroism? Of success? Of victimization? Of boredom? Of hopelessness? Of cynicism? Of self-satisfaction? Now think about a redemptive narrative. Review what happened to Joseph and Ruth. What did the story of their lives look like when they were in the middle of it? What did it look like at the end? What would it mean for you to imagine God in the story of your life? How would that change your perspective on daily events? How might it affect the way you view and prepare for the future?

  • What did you learn about story as you read the chapter? From the two biblical stories? From the spiritual exercise? How can you begin to view your own story from this same redemptive perspective?

  • Romans 8:27-28

Resources from the History of the Church

Prayer to God the Father

I appeal to you, Lord, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob and Israel, you the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Infinitely merciful as you are, it is your will that we should learn to know you.  You made heaven and earth, you rule supreme over all that is.  You are the true, the only God; there is no other god above you.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, grant that all who read what I have written here may know you, because you alone are God; let them draw strength from you; keep them from all teaching that is heretical, irreligious or godless.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies

Prayer to the Paedagogus

Be kind, dear Teacher, to us your children.  You are our Father, Defender of Israel; God the Son and God the Father, united as one Lord.  Grant to us who obey your commands that we may become more perfectly like you, and know you to the utmost of our ability as a good God and a tolerant judge.  Keep us all in your peace, citizens of heaven, having sailed calmly over the stormy waters of sin, wafted smoothly along by the wind of your Holy Spirit, your Wisdom beyond words.  Night and day, until the last day; may we praise you with thanksgiving to the only Father and the Son, Son and Father; the Son, our Teacher, together with the Holy Spirit.  You are the one, in whom and for whom all things exist in unity, who has given us a share in eternal glory.  All things exist for the one God, who is all goodness, all loveliness, all wise and all just.  To God be glory, now and for ever and ever.  Amen. 

From The Tutor, Clement of Alexandria, 150-215