I’ve admitted before that I’m a lifelong learner (LLL). And I am thankful that the Lord put that drive in me. Full disclosure…I wasn’t that good a student in school, so this desire to learn has come to me a bit later in life. Part of it is curiosity about the world around us and the people God created. That has been greatly enhanced by the opportunities I have to travel internationally and meet such great people from so many different cultures.

Part of this LLL syndrome is looking for ways to improve myself, to learn from masters, to see levels of excellence in many different arenas of life. Sports. The arts. Literature. Spiritual commitment in the life of people I admire. Learning…always learning.

The Apostle Paul talked about the process of fixing our mind on the best things. You remember the admonition he gave to the believers in Philippi.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 NLT

As a media person I try to find things of excellence to observe and from which to learn. I’m sometimes surprised where that takes me. I often come across some of the audition stories from the American Idol television show. Some of the performers are quite good, but it is usually the stories about those trying out that catches my attention.

Most of these vignettes are not faith-based. Yet many tell the story of overcoming hardship and difficulties, bad home environments and economic downturns. Some emphasize the value of a family member or friend who has provided encouragement. Many are quite moving.

Storytelling. It is quite an art, but there is much we can learn by seeing how others craft their stories for maximum impact. Here are some quick points I have gleaned from those who are successful in telling stories for impact.

  1. Create a strong narrative arc. This is the story line, with beginning, middle, and end. There is usually some conflict in the story, and then it is resolved in the ending.
  2. Keep your target audience in mind. Who is watching your story? Who do you want to influence?
  3. Appeal to emotions. The best stories touch our hearts and tug at our emotions. Use this in a way that brings impact to your story.
  4. Show…don’t tell. Use the visual impact of the tool to express information…not just words.
  5. Learn the power of composition. Shots, angles, sequences of shots. Filmmaker Phil Cooke says watch good videos and movies with the sound turned off. See how the filmmaker uses composition to move the story along and provide impact.
  6. Draw from your own life experiences. Observe life. Slow down long enough to see what is happening around you. Then think how to apply what you are seeing in your story.

Phil Cooke quoted well-known American naturalist and author Henry David Thoreau.

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”

What do you see? How can you express that with excellence? What impact can your storytelling have on others? Work toward excellence at crafting your storytelling skills. Then see how God uses that to touch a life for His purposes.

God’s best…