During this time of mind-numbing Zoom calls when everything feels distant, it’s more important than ever to tell stories to keep people close. Even Jesus – who didn’t know much about technology – knew that stories are critical to reaching people. Because we’re in need of that connection, it’s also more important than ever to engage people’s emotions. Here’s a previous post about telling effective stories.
I miss reading stories out loud.
It was one of the magical things that my spouse and I did every night with our children when they were little.
Little did I know that these stories were stimulating two specific emotions:
1. distress
2. empathy.
Paul Zakis a leader in the relatively new field of neuroeconomics. Neuroeconomics is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to explain:
- how humans make decisions,
- how they have the ability to process various alternatives, and
- how they then decide what they are going to do.
He discovered that, as the feelings of distress and empathy were elicited, two chemicals were released in the brain: cortisol and oxytocin.
The chemical cortisol focuses your attention– and the more distress you feel, the more cortisol is released.
On the other hand, oxytocin releases when there is a sense of care, connection, and empathy.
The Gospels are full of stories of distress and empathy. The woman at the well. The feeding of the 5,000. Mary and Martha. Zacchaeus. The crucifixion and resurrection. You can name a dozen others.
The Gospel stories are about why Jesus came – the distressing state of humanity – and about what Jesus brings us, the love of God. New scientific understandings of storytelling and the function of chemicals in our bodies reveal the “how” of why these stories are so powerful and transforming for us.
As you seek to share the good news of the Gospel, or the transformative work of your organization, you need to ask yourself:
How are you doing at your storytelling? Here are two quick reminders:
1. There can be no redemption without distress. Too often, we worry about making people sad. Emotion is not a bad thing. Telling that part of the story makes us sit up and take notice.
2. Let people feel empathy. Once again, tears of compassion are not bad. If you think about some of those Gospel stories and really let them sink in, you too will find yourself going straight for the Kleenex.
There are so few places that storytelling is done and done well. Church should be one of the places that bucks that trend. Be a part of releasing some cortisol and oxytocin. You’ll be doing your people – and yourself – a great favor.
Cesie Delve Scheuermann, consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing, Oregan-Idaho AC, Click here to subscribe to her blog: "Inspiring Generosity."
United Methodist Church Giving is about people working together to accomplish something bigger than themselves. In so doing, we effect change around the world, all in the name of Jesus Christ. To read stories about the generosity of United Methodists click here.
Originally posted on March 30, 2019
