Part 3 of 7
Welcome to Part 3 of our series on crafting your life story. We have come to my favorite part of the story when the guide steps into the character's life. If you're joining us for the first time, you're on a literary and empowerment journey. Using Donald Miller's concept of the storybrand, you can learn a simple and clear way to capture the essence of your story, if you're a writer of fiction stories. You can also gain clarity on your own purpose or life story. Let's continue together!
The Guide
According to Donald Miller, author Building Your Storybrand, there are two things that an effective guide in your story must have. The first is empathy and the second is authority. The guide cares deeply about the characters' need and problem. This gives them a vested interest in the growth of the character. It is also helpful if the guide has gone through something that equips him or her to help our character. This gives the guide the right to speak into the character's life or show them a particular path. Without the guide's influence, our character will remain stuck with their unmet need and problem.
Consider these examples. Lighting McQueen becomes a better racer with Doc Hudson's guidance in Cars. Marlin crosses the ocean and finds his son in Sydney with Dory's help in the iconic Finding Nemo. Young Russell is an unexpected but necessary companion with old Mr. Fredrickson in the eventful jungle journey in Up. (You can probably tell I am a Pixar Animation Studios fan.)
Jesus is the Guide
In our attempts to live out the life we sense deep down inside, we experience failure in different ways, and it is very frustrating. But we do not have to try and figure things out on our own. Let me introduce you to a loving guide, Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Savior of the world and Prince of Peace. His promise to us in John 10:10-11 is that He came that we may have life, and have it to the full - both temporarily and eternally. He is the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. As a shepherd leads and cares for his flock, Jesus does the same for those within His care.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV) is Jesus' resume for being the most effective guide for us, because it speaks to His empathy and authority. "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." We are so aware of ourselves and our deep need, and our great problem, and we have the opportunity to walk with the ultimate guide.
If you're tired of living life on your terms, and you want to be guided by Jesus, genuinely cry out to Him to save you from an empty way of living, and He will give you a full and abundant life. He knew who He was, why He was here, what He was created (born) to do and where He was going -- so He is entirely capable of helping us to answer these questions for ourselves. In Luke 19:10 (NIV), He said He came to seek and save the lost. He fulfilled that purpose on earth and holds the keys to us fulfilling our purpose on earth as well.
By Kerry-Ann McPherson
Project Manager & Contributor
