A recent issue of “Forward Day by Day Daily Devotionals for Disciples” asked, “Who are our storytellers today?” The authors pointed out that in Native American communities, they were elders and holy men and women and that as each subsequent generation passed, so did their stories. Those who heard the stories enough learned something from them to become the next generation of storytellers.
In this fast-paced world and detached from reality in which we live where many seek instant gratification through social media, I too ask who are our storytellers – those that pass on the core values and mores from one generation to the next.
As a child growing up in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay, I was fascinated listening to my grandparent’s talk of their and their ancestors’ lives as a waterman whose demanding livelihoods were at the mercy of mother nature and an unpredictable economy. Times could be tough but in spite of many obstacles, they prevailed and were not only able to raise their respective families but also help those less fortunate.
Looking back, I now realize that they were in fact the storytellers in my life who taught me the value of demanding work, integrity, and empathy for one’s fellow man. I may have dismissed these stories when they were told over 60 years ago but now, I wish I had listened more intently to each and every word.
As a collector of military uniforms, I will often encounter a uniform of a highly decorated military veteran from the Valley thrown irreverently in a heap. I point out to the family what the individual who wore this uniform went through to earn the decorations such as the Silver Star and Purple Heart. I always encourage the owners to keep it to ensure that the legacy of honor and courage under fire is passed on to future generations. Unfortunately, most have no interest and would rather have a “couple of bucks” in exchange for a precious family heirloom.
Without family storytellers, we have lost our connection with the past and do not have a solid foundation to ground us as we face the trials and tribulations of the future. We desperately need them in our hectic lives in order to maintain our sense of balance, perspective, and well-being.
As a fly fisher, I am forever haunted by the words of Norman McClean’s “A “River Runs Through It.” “Now all those I loved and did not understand when I was young are dead, but I still reach out to them. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.” Yes “their words” are the words of my ancestor storytellers who kept the story of life on the Chesapeake Bay alive from one generation to the next.
As Thanksgiving approaches, are you a storyteller to the next generation?
