So when it comes to a story there are many elements that exist. One of those elements is the protagonist which is a fancy word for the main character. We are all the protagonist in our own lives and in our own stories. When I look at my daily life in regards to a story – it really makes me think of how boring of a life I live. My story would not be a fun one to read all the time. Maybe great if you couldn’t fall asleep but wanted to. And especially great as light toilet reading.
For example, here is how my most common day would look like:
“With the first beep of the alarm – the ruggedly handsome Mic (this is my story – so all is fair game) awakes with a jump and hits the snooze button. Finally getting out of bed Mic gets ready for work. He loads up his belongings and travels the long 5 minute commute to work and does his thing being amazing! (Employee of the month – yo! And that has actually never happened) When 5 o’clock hits – he walks downstairs to his other office for OpenMicDesigns. Mic then spends the next 4-5 hours working. Exhausted he finally leaves to go get some food and much needed sleep. The End.”
See. BORING.
Pretty much static. Not much change from day to day. As I was doing some research into the elements of a story I found that there are two types of character developments. They are called Static Character and Dynamic Character.
The personality of the static character when he/she is introduced is the same personality when the story comes to a close.
On the flip side we have the dynamic character which is a literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude.
When I look at my story and my life. I may think that I am boring and lame (some would say that it’s true) but I am very thankful that I strive to be more dynamic in my character development. That is not to toot my own horn. That is simply stating – I have baggage. Baggage I am not proud of. Baggage that has lost me and lot and hurt many people along the way. When I fell off the proverbial horse and hit rock bottom I could have become a static character and just be like “whatevs” and stay where I had fallen.
I am grateful for a family that helped pick me back up. I am thankful for the friends that helped pick me back up. I am humbled by my boss who helped pick me back up. And I am forever changed by the God who picked me back up.
It was because of all the above people that I was able to move away from a static character to a dynamic character. Now – it took years for that change to start to occur and be noticeable in my own life. I wanted to stay static. I wanted to be miserable. I didn’t deserve to be happy. I didn’t deserve to be loved. My self-worth was nonexistent. I could smile around others – but it was fake.
I don’t want to have a story that is stagnant. I don’t want a story that ends on a low note. I am gonna go out fighting. Every day is a new day that continually is shaping and molding me to be the man of God I am meant to be.
All of us have a story. Some people have these amazing stories that have led to greatness. Some of us have stories that have been derailed more times than we can count. No matter how our story has gone thus far – NOTHING – is set in stone to say that we cannot change it. Our stories are just beginning. We can bring life back into them. We can bring meaning back into them. We all have stories that will change this world. We have stories that can help others facing the same/similar hardships move forward and know that their stories are not over either.
I challenge all of us – to not settle with our stories. I encourage us to strive to be dynamic and seek the internal change that Christ offers us. I promise you that there is nothing you have done in your life that limits you from being a game changer in the world.
In the book of Genesis we see Joseph who was thrown in prison for something he didn’t do. He started having a static life. Nothing new. Just waiting for something to happen. He could have easily just given up hope and just sulked in self-pity. “Well here I am – sitting in prison – having done absolutely nothing. Woe is me.” He didn’t though. He kept praying to God. His faith grew stronger and stronger. He had dynamic faith in a static world. Joseph was eventually released and promoted to be a MAJOR game changer. In fact, because of him, he saved his family and thousands of other people.
His story was not over while he was in prison… It was just beginning.
Your story is not over…It’s just beginning.
Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose faith. I whole-heartedly believe that each and everyone one of you are destined to do amazing and great things in this world. And if for whatever reason you don’t believe that – PLEASE reach out to me. The non-profit Continue the Story was founded to help rewrite our stories when we feel at a total loss. You are not alone.
“Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” – Hebrews 6: 9-12
I cannot wait to see how each of our stories begin to take shape and begin to plant seeds in the lives of those around us. #ContinueTheStory