On the Importance of Baha'i Stories: repeat them accurately, practice with your friends, list them, use them often
A premiere Baha'i storyteller in the Tacoma Baha'i Community is Tim, pictured above. Below are some principles of Baha'i storytelling, from a new blog dedicated to the subject put together by Brent Poirier, a webservant who also publishes The Baha'i Covenant and The Tablets of the Divine Plan . -gw
Pray. Storytelling is teaching, not entertainment. Ask the Concourse to inspire the listeners' hearts.Pray for selflessness, ask the Concourse to inspire the hearts. Don't be attached to the response.Exercise some control over the direction of the gathering; don't be afraid to be reverent, to bring up the Word of GodPlace your stories in categories and make a list of key words you can quickly scan.
Let the story tell itself; don't explain it; don't tell people to laugh. Be detached from praise. The goal is to turn the hearts to God, not to you.Follow tragic stories with happy stories or moving or uplifting stories, cheer the hearts after the experience of sorrowEstablish a rhythm between quoting the Word of God and telling storiesEvery believer can serve “all can pray, fight their own spiritual battles, and contribute to the Fund”Look for stories, repeat them accurately, practice with your friends, list them, use them often
A new blog on developing the art of Baha'i storytelling, which includes a wonderful presentation by Kiser Barnes:
It will not only include Baha'i stories, but will have more of a focus on developing the art of storytelling. -gw
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