Stop, Listen, Look! the Spiritual Healing of Storytelling

“Stop, Listen, Look! The Spiritual Healing of Storytelling

NACC Workshop- Albuquerque, New Mexico

Presented by: Linda Broda Pribble M.A., BCC

April 28, 2017

Chaplains spend time daily listening to the stories of others. We are story listeners and tellers. What do we do with these stories, how many do we carry? And how do these stories shape and impact our inner landscapes?

Participants will be able to learn a practice of emptying; becoming sacred story-witnesses, and a practice of filling; becoming healing storytellers.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the spiritual practice of listening to stories from the outside in.

• Recognize how and where stories are carried in our biology.

• Learn to embody the “Emmaus Story” as an on-going spiritual journey of recognition.

• Identify how these practices can be applied in life and in the vocation of chaplaincy.

The Road to Emmaus- Luke 24:13-32 (RSV Standard/ Navarre Bible)

Narrator: “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem, talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Jesus: “What are you both talking about?” (Paraphrase)

Cleopas: (Looking sad) “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know these things?”

Jesus: “What things?”

Cleopas: “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. We had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is now the third day since this has happened. And some women, in our company amazed us. They were at his tomb early in the morning and did not find his body! They came back saying they had even seen a vision of angels, who said Jesus was alive! Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women said; but him they did not see.”

Jesus: “You guys are really slow! (Paraphrase) Don’t you know or remember the Messiah was to suffer according to the prophesy? Now let’s begin with Moses and remember all that the prophets said about the Messiah…”

Cleopas: “Don’t leave…stay with us, it’s getting late.”

Narrator: “So Jesus went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.”

Cleopas and other disciple: “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?”

Narrator: “That same hour they left for Jerusalem and found the eleven disciples and others gathered together.

Others: “The Lord has risen indeed, and appeared to Simon!”

Cleopas and other disciple: “We were on the road to Emmaus when we met a man and he explained the scriptures to us. We recognized him, in the breaking of the bread.”

The Road to Emmaus Story- A Reflection

• Who are theCharacters in this story and what parts do they play?

• What is the function of the Narrator in this story?

• Who are the witnesses and what is their role?

• Who or what is the recognizer part in this story?

• What speaks to you in this story and reflection?

Now, on the back of this page, write a story that stays with you. This storywill involve you and a patient, client or family member…a story that carries some weight for you.

The Road to Emmaus- A Contemplative teaching

(Listening from the Outside in…)

We walk with Christ, just like on the “Road to Emmaus” entering the path to “inner listening.” Walking meditation we do the same…listen. We sit with Christ (on a chair or cushion) or at table like the disciples in the Emmaus story. Ultimately we stand with Christ, recognizing our oneness.

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