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| Image by Candelario Gomez Lopez from Pixabay |
We all know the power a good storyteller holds over his or her audience, whether it is through the written word, through audio or live performance. The words enthrall us, holding us captive to the last word.
I recently read an amazing example of the power of storytelling.
During WW II, the War Department called on John Steinbeck to help the war
effort. Not by speeches or visiting the troops, but by writing a story. Yes, a
story. He wrote, The Moon is Down, a story of a peaceful land invaded by
an evil regime. The novel was printed by underground presses and delivered to
Nazi occupied territories. It spread the good news the allies were coming and
if the people imitated the characters in the novel, they could help secure
their freedom. Imagine the impact that message had on those suffering under
German brutality.
Stories have enriched my life, even before I could read the
words myself. Some changed my life, made such an impact that I viewed the world
differently, thought differently, felt different. Some lingered, staying with
me long after I closed the book.
How about you? Have stories enriched or changed your life in
some way?
