Comments on: Owning Our Stories

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:35:07 +0000

Thanks, Chad. Great words.

By: Chad Holtz

Chad Holtz — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:24:55 +0000

Ian,
A friend directed me this way and I’m glad he did. Nice blog and great topic.

I have been writing a lot lately on my blog about the importance of owning our narratives and that the only way we can truly be loving is to our neighbor is by honoring their’s as well. This, IMO, pushes back against the presumed “niceness” of tolerance today or the idea that in order to be humble we must “hold our beliefs lightly,” as I often hear.

Rather, we need to own them, as you suggest, as we honor those of others.

Reading your article here reminds me of the Ubuntu saying, “I am, because you are.” How true.

grace and peace,
Chad

By: Biff Barnes

Biff Barnes — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:35:06 +0000

The internal conflict you describe over what to leave on the cutting room floor is an interesting one. It’s also one most memoir writers don’t talk about. As an editor who works with a lot of people writing memoirs and family histories I hear lots of people who are concerned with the things other family members want left out. But they don’t talk about the things they choose to leave out themselves. It’s too bad, because those more painful experiences may also be the things that would give depth and texture to their memoirs.

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:15:28 +0000

Thanks, Jared. Glad Chasing Francis has been a help to you on your journey.

By: Jared Brandon

Jared Brandon — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:21:20 +0000

This reminds me a little of what Don Miller talks about in “A Million Miles in A Thousand Years.” The whole book is about this concept of “story” and how we tell it. He also makes mention of a friend of his who writes down everything he remembers about his life. Ian, your book has inspired me to begin journaling. I’ve always been inclined towards this, but never executed until now. Hopefully I haven’t self-edited too much and will be able to accurately tell my own story.

By: Terri

Terri — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:48:38 +0000

Ian,

When of my favorite things about the Old Testament is how people marked places by building a stone alter to help them to remember what had transpired–how God had worked in that place. I get the “why” we should own our own story, but it is the sharing of the story that I really struggle with simply because many things in my past would wound those who I care deeply for today. Thank you for pointing out that the timing and the right community are needed. For everything there is a season…

Blessings,

Terri

By: willi stewart

willi stewart — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:28:48 +0000

Hey Ian love what you said. Would like to learn some more about this, what is a good book to read on it

By: Megan Joy

Megan Joy — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:35:14 +0000

You are an amazing writer. Funny yet serious, somehow heavy yet light, inspirational in touchable way. The message is clear in an unforgettable way. Beautifully written.

By: Tade Reen

Tade Reen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:07:14 +0000

Ian – this post is inspiring. Everyone’s story is not just important, they are each fascinating in their own ways. Your next project sounds like an exciting one and I cant wait to read it.