Thank you, Miss Evelyn
“After nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” — Philip Pullman
Summer arrived, and I was intent on spending most of it reading and writing stories. When Mother insisted I attend summer Bible study classes, I resisted.
“But Mom, I don’t want to go.”
“Why not, dear? I thought you liked listening to Miss Evelyn sharing Bible stories.
“I do, but this summer I’d rather stay home and read and write. Please, Mother,” I begged.
“Now darlin’, the Bible is full of wonderful stories which, by the way, are well-written. Going will serve you well.”
“But Mom…”
“No,” she said emphatically, a frown creasing her forehead.
Further resistance was futile. The next day I ambled my way to church with my sack lunch in one hand and my Bible in the other with my writing tablet hidden underneath. I lingered outside before entering the classroom, intentionally sitting on the back row so I could write rather than listen to Miss Evelyn.
“In the beginning was the Word,” began Miss Evelyn, “and the Word was with God, and the Word is God. Through your words you connect with God and express your God-given creative power.”
I put down my pen, believing her message was meant just for me and had something to do with my love for words and my intense drive to share stories.
“Words are not just sounds or written symbols,” she continued. “Words are a force that can be used for good or evil. They give you the power to express, communicate, share, think, and have an impact upon the world. Words are the most powerful tool humans have to connect with and inspire others.”
Miss Evelyn walked to the back of the room, addressing me directly. “The Bible is filled with inspirational, ageless stories—stories humans have shared across time.
After a week of listening to Miss Evelyn share biblical stories, how I viewed the Bible changed; it wasn’t an archaic book intentionally written in some obscure language that I struggled to understand. It was filled with stories fraught with things I loved: complex characters, figurative language, intricate plots, and compelling conflicts with large doses of wisdom thrown in.
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