Across the Pastor’s Desk by Katelyn Rakotoarivelo

 

A few weeks ago, during education time after worship at my church, we watched a TED Talk by Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie: “The Danger of a Single Story.” She exposed the dangers of having a single story about people — of having only one idea of what they are like.

She discusses how she had a single story about the house boy, Fide, who worked for her family. She knew he was very poor and assumed his life must be quite sad, without knowing he had a joyous and loving family. She also noted how American college students had a single story of her; they were mystified by her English even though Nigeria has English as an official language, and some people were even surprised she knew how to use a stove.

After watching her TED Talk, we discussed our own single stories, both those we had of others and narrow ideas people might have of us. Single stories are dangerous because they create assumptions without truth. They create hatred without cause. They create barriers without relationships.

We’re fed single stories every day by some news, social media, even books and art about this or that group of people, this or that place. As people of faith, we’re called to deeper relationships with one another and to actually witness the fullness of one another’s stories.

In the gospels, Jesus crosses borders and boundaries all the time, and is often found ministering to and conversing with people that mainstream society rejects. He tells the parable of the “Good Samaritan,” in which the character (the Samaritan) least expected by the audience to be the hero, is exactly that. He listens to the voices of women and spends time with those who are sick. Jesus takes the time to answer the genuine questions of Nicodemus, a Pharisee.

It is clear Jesus does not walk the ways of perpetuating single stories and falling in line with society.

We live in a beautifully diverse world, and there are many God-blessed stories and experiences in this life. How can you follow the path of Jesus, rejecting the single stories society tries to feed you and instead witnessing to the fullness of God’s creation?

Katelyn Rakotoarivelo is a pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake in Albert Lea.