A Story-Formed Life
“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.”
It’s not easy navigating life, let alone living it well. There are the inevitable twists and turns, trials and tests that require a well-grounded moral compass to guide us on our journey. Therefore, we need outlets and resources for thinking and talking about what life means and the manner in which we ought to live it. In short, we need examples.
Enter the power of story. Stories provide an excellent vehicle for this important dialogue. Well-written stories shape our thoughts, guide our hearts and deepen our understanding of the world around us. They offer us a chance to explore life’s complexities and invite us to participate in the lives of the characters. We see firsthand the results and consequences of their choices, good and bad.
Great stories awaken the soul and provide a compelling vision for living a life of virtue. Obviously, some of the best examples are found in Scripture. The faith of Abraham, the courage of David and the wisdom of Solomon, to name a few. Yet, even these men of faith faced situations that challenged and tested their character.
English novelist, Mary Ann Evans, writing under her pen name, George Eliot, captured this tension well when she wrote, “Character is not cut in marble - it is not something solid and unalterable. It is something living and changing, and may become diseased as our bodies do.”
Our character is tested every day, often placing us in situations that challenge our moral compass. This is where stories can play an important role in shaping how we respond in those difficult circumstances. Through the lives of their characters, they continually bring to life traits like honesty, courage, patience and compassion, reminding us of a better outcome.
At Paideia, we realize that there is a moral dimension to reading. It has a subtle, yet direct impact upon us. We internalize, ruminate and act out what we read. That is why we carefully select the literature our students read and discuss. Ultimately, we recognize that it’s not enough to know what is right, it’s also necessary to desire what is right, and exposure to great stories is one way our students begin to recognize that vital connection.
