If I told you my story
I love stories and I am a natural story teller. If you know me well, you know that often what could be a short answer to your question comes with a story.
FaithWorks graduates are reading Brene’ Brown’s book Rising Strong and discussing her writing over dinner one Thursday night each month. Brown talks about how our brains are wired for story. Our brains actually reward us with dopamine when we recognize the familiar beginning-middle-end structure of a story. In this book she tells how we much reclaim the truth about our lovability, divinity, and creativity.
I have many favorite things about FaithWorks. Our students and their life stories top my list. I love getting to know the men and women who join the FaithWorks family each spring, summer and fall as we begin each new 13-week class. And I love that their story with FaithWorks is not just that initial 13 weeks
One of my favorite songs, “My Story” by Big Daddy Weave, begins with, “If I told you my story, you would hear hope that wouldn’t let go . . . you would hear love that never gave up . . . you would hear victory over the enemy.”
If I told you the story of this 39th class of FaithWorks, you would also hear stories of determination and persistence and hard work. You would hear the stories of single moms working to change the very direction and future of their children and of men taking giant steps in bright and new careers.
And these great stories are not restricted to class time during this 13-week semester or even to their 4-week internships during this semester; their stories continue well past this season. FaithWorks stories are forever stories
If I told you the story, you would hear the story of Darla, a graduate from 2006 who serves as the hostess and greeter to those who come to the FaithWorks building to have their tax returns prepared for free on Monday evenings. Darla represents FaithWorks to the community with the other VITA volunteers whose paying jobs are with Region 14. Because of her generosity in giving Monday evenings during tax season our neighbors can have their taxes prepared for free.
You would hear stories of the six FaithWorks graduates who played key roles in the Poverty Simulation hosted by Abilene Independent School District’s Region 14 Service Center. Because of the willingness of Kevin, Claudia, Darla, Lloyd, Jeri, and Krista, middle class leaders from Abilene were able to better understand real life frustrations of living in poverty in Abilene, Texas, in the safety and comfort of a three-hour simulation. These six graduates filled the role of mortgage company cashier, the utility company representative, the owner of the local pawn shop, the representative from the homeless shelter and the pay day loan representative, the jailer and local social services center.
“If I told you my story you would hear life but it wasn’t mine.
If I should speak then let it be of the grace that is greater than all my sin,
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins,
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in.
To tell you my story is to tell of Him.”
Big Daddy Weave
The spring class of FaithWorks graduates on Thursday evening, April 21, at Grace Fellowship at 7:00. Please make plans to come celebrate with this 39th class as we hear firsthand from current and former students their incredible stories.
We begin summer class on Tuesday, May 31st. We are taking applications now. If you know of someone (and I suppose there is more that goes here).