Strength: A Reflection On Stories, Wisdom, and Power

Strong?

What does it mean to be strong?



Delilah beguiled Samson, lay with him, and when he was asleep, she cut his hair. When the deed was done she called to him, "Wake up Samson, the Philistines have come!"

Without his hair, Samson had no strength and the Philistines took him blinded him and chained him in their great halls to make sport of him.



What does it mean to be weak?

Weak?

A mouse was scurrying home when she accidentally ran across a lion's paw.

"Well," said the lion, "you'll make a nice snack."
"Don't eat me," cried the mouse.
"Why not?" asked the lion.
"Someday, I might be able to save you!"
"You?" the lion laughed, but he let the mouse go because of its cheek.



What does it mean to be wise?

Anansi is often quite foolish!

Anansi tried and tried to find a way to get down to the bottom of the pond, but he could not do it. When all of the food was gone, the turtle swam to the top of the water and handed Anansi a glass of water.

"Sorry, friend Anansi! I waited as long as I could. I guess you just weren't hungry!"

Don't do something to someone unless you want them to do it right back to you!





What does it mean to be smart?

Brer Rabbit

"Why ain't you dead?" Brer Fox demanded.
"'Cause I was born and bred in this here briar patch, and it is 'xactly where I wanted to be!"




Over this last week, I have been watching the United States of America discuss our national tragedy...our ongoing national tragedy.

I have wondered what stories to tell.

I have wondered what to say.

I have fought and listened and discussed.

I have wept, and yelled, and clenched my fists.

I have also been proud, shocked, incredulous and hopeful.

So, I leave you with this tale (apologies to Margaret Read MacDonald for my not verbatim retelling!)



Strength - A Retelling


Once, all of the animals gathered to determine who was the strongest.

Gazelle went first. She ran like the wind through the trees faster and faster on her powerful and delicate legs. When she stopped, she raised her head proudly.

Everyone nodded solemnly. "Strength!" they intoned.

Strength

Gorilla climbed the trees higher and higher with his powerful arms and legs. He swung through the branches and then landed on the ground and pounded his chest.

Everyone nodded solemnly. "Strength!" they intoned.

Strength!

Elephant ripped trees from the ground with her powerful trunk, picked them up with her tusks and hurled them into the air.

Everyone nodded solemnly. "Strength!" they intoned.






Man arrived late. Man was always late. He had a package with him. He hid it behind a rock and walked into the middle of the gathering.

"Okay!" he announced. "Here I am."

"Welcome," said the other animals. "What can you do?"

"Watch!" said Man.

He jumped up into the trees and went from branch to branch and then swung around from place to place, and then he climbed down and said, "Ta-da!"

"Well," said the animals, "we've already seen climbing. That was nice climbing, but it wasn't as strong as Gorilla's."

"Well," said Man, "watch this!" He ran around with sticks beating on the trees and singing and making lots of noise. He tossed the sticks away, ran over to the animals and said, "Ta-da!"

"Well," said the animals, "We've already seen running. That was nice but not as strong as Gazelle."

"Watch this!" said Man. He began to flip and dance. He went on like this until he was tired. He ran over to the animals and said, "Ta-da!"

"Well," said the animals, "that was entertaining, but lots of us can flip. Is there nothing you do that truly shows your strength?"

Man was upset. "You want to see strength?" he cried. "I'll show you strength!"
He ran to the place where he'd hidden his package, ripped it open, took out a strange object, pointed it at Elephant, and then there was a loud noise. Elephant fell down dead. The animals fled into the trees.

Later, after Man had gone, the animals came out of hiding.

"What was that?" asked one.

"Was it strength?" asked another.

"No," said the owl. "That was death."

To this day, Man walks alone, for he is the only animal who doesn't know the difference between "strength" and "death".



I have heard so many stories of strength and love in the last few days, that I think we might actually make progress.

I have seen determination and strength mobilize a new generation of Americans to oppose the routine slaughter and senseless death of our children that has become such a common thing in this country.

Let us hope these stories and actions can move our country forward.

Holding our children in my heart

The Telling Can Be Powerful
Use It Well

Yes! SHE, Fire & Light...That kind of sounds like the lyrics to a Reggae song

So, I've been avoiding the Blog.  Why?

Traveling, telling, writing, and family.  Not to mention the fact that I have way too much percolating in my head about the 30 Million Word Gap.  I've finally decided to throw in the towel about this subject on the blog.

I have years and years of research about this subject.  There is no way to encapsulate it that gives as much energy and understanding as it deserves in this space.  None!

So, I've decided to forgo torturing myself anymore with providing just enough information in a blog format to confuse or possibly bore the reader.

If you really want to learn more about the literacy pitfalls, the language challenges or the way to use this information to inform how you craft stories for youth, I have a much better venue .

I will be presenting at the YES! Alliance Pre-conference Mesa, Az.

YES! Stands for Youth Educators and Storytelling

I think SHE stands for Storytellers in Higher Education.

If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will tell me!


http://yesalliance.org/events

Wednesday, July 23 • 9:00am-6:30pm
YES!/SHE Pre-Conference at the National Storytelling Conference
Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona

Changing the World One Story at a Time

The Yes! Folks went all out and they dragged the SHE people with them!  They have an amazing line up of Key Note speakers.

Internationally recognized storytellers Margaret Read MacDonald, Jennifer and Nathaniel Whitman, our Keynote speakers, will discuss the use of storytelling to build community and character.

Additional workshops include, Storytelling Apologetics, or How I Got to Teach Storytelling with recommendations on how to sell your storytelling courses and lessons to administrators, faculty, and students.

The popular YOUTH TRACK returns from 1:00–8:00pm, and includes the afternoon workshops, the Youth Concert from 5:30 – 6:30pm and a Celebratory Pizza and Story SWAP.

I will be doing a workshop about the 30 Million Word Gap and repertoire building.  So, if you really want to get into the weeds of this concept and yell at me about the things you find difficult to believe or stuff you just don't like about this concept...we could do it there.

Then, just in case you didn't have enough of my yammering, I am also teaching a Master Class at the conference.

http://www.storynet.org/conference/master-classes.html

I hope it will be both informative and fun!

Crafting for Your Bread and Butter:  
Rocking School Assemblies with the Perfect Stories
with Donna Washington

Performing for schools can be a very profitable endeavor in more ways than one.  Schools represent a captive audience of future performers, listeners, and organizers.  Getting students hooked on storytelling early is a good way to increase our numbers on stage and in the audience. Donna Washington spends most of her time performing for elementary, middle and high school students.  One thing she’s discovered is that schools really appreciate when you offer them age appropriate and learning-standards targeted assemblies.  She’s been told that lots of artists talk a good game about offering different shows for different age groups, but lots of them do not deliver.  In this master class, Donna will share how she weaves crafting techniques, social and emotional development, and literacy building skills into successful storytelling sets for everyone from pre-K through high school. 

Donna is an award-winning storyteller, author, and recording artist.  Her CD awards include iParenting Media Excellent Product Award and multiple Parents Choice, Storytelling World and Children’s Music Web Awards.  Donna has performed at thousands of schools, libraries, and storytelling festivals across the country, including the National Storytelling Festival.  She offers workshops in storytelling, writing, education, and creative drama for librarians and educators and will travel the country to tell stories and give workshops for anyone willing to listen.

There are going to be fabulous workshops at NSN by some Masters this year.

Connie Regan Blake is going to get your stories on their feet.  (I particularly love that Connie is going to be there since she is one of my mentors!)

Joe Hayes is going to give a master class on telling stories from other cultures (I have never met Joe Hayes, but I have heard of him and am looking forward to meeting him)

Tim Tingle, writer and storyteller extraordinaire will be giving a class on writing.  (Tim Tingle.  'Nuff said.)

Aside from all the teaching and other inspirational activities, there will be concerts, fringe performances, random happenings, new friends, old friends, and lots and lots of joy.

So, head out to Mesa this summer if you can, and we can chat about the 30 Million Word Gap in person...or anything else you might want to discuss!

Happy Learning!