The Narrative of My Life

Life is a series of narratives. Arnett, Fritz, and Bell (2009) write “a narrative is a story agreed upon by a group of people. This public story explains the way the world works and the meaning of human life, including what is good for humans to be and do. A narrative provides guidelines for human action,” (Arnett, et al. 2009, p. 37).

Naturally, my Christian faith is the foundation and narrative that guides my life. It’s my foundation because my mother taught me at an early age about having faith in God. The Bible is the ultimate authority. Although the Bible has several writers, it is divinely inspired by God. Therefore, everything that I take from the Bible to apply in my life I believe I am walking in God’s ways. Arnett, Fritz, and Bell (2009) suggest “narratives themselves are host to goods that underlie, constitute, and shape them,” (Arnett, et al. 2009, p. 57). God’s ways teach us to be patient, kind, forgiving, to do what is right, and to think on the beautiful and lovely things of the world since evil is all around us.

It is my desire to make an impact in my society. Therefore, I constantly walk with the thought of being kind to someone. Whether to throw a smile their way or an encouraging word. I also walk with forgiveness in my heart because as I am forgiven by my Father, others need forgiveness from me. So, when my heart is broken I know it’s not the end of the story, but it’s just the beginning. It’s a test to let me see how strong I can be walking as a child of God.

In the Black faith we have a history of being cast down, and overcoming adversity. I would encourage you to research Bishop Richard Allen and the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.). Yet, I am reminded of Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise”. Angelou (1978) wrote:

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

The Bible states, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” 2 Cor. 4:7-9 (King James Version). I make my everyday decisions with the thought of trying to be upward mobile, being kind to others, and showing the strength that’s been instilled in me by my ancestors.

References:

Angelou, M. (1978). And still I rise. New York, NY: Random House

Arnett, R. C., Harden Fritz, J. M., & Bell, L. M. (2009). Communication ethics literacy: dialogue  and difference. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

 

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