We allow stories to touch our hearts. Why stories? There are so many good reasons. Stories shape and re-shape our lives. It is through stories that we make sense of ourselves and our world. Stories give a pattern to the chaos of life and bestow meaning on otherwise random events. Stories give new perspectives and help us see concretely how we can live wisely and well. Stories also connect us with people They give us an inside view of how other people feel and think. This inside view shows us what we have in common with others and at times challenges us in our own ways of seeing things. Through stories we can receive the grace of becoming kinder and more compassionate human beings. Stories are universal in their reach. They ‘speak’ in the widest sense of the word. They open us up to a deep part of ourselves, a place where we are linked with other people and with our shared history. And crucially, stories make important points in easy-to-remember ways that intrigue us and capture our attention.

Excerpted from The Mindful Our Father  by Thomas G Casey SJ (p.13)