Sessions 2 &3 –The Unfolding Story of Your Life...
(Creating a Story Board/Story Line of Your Life)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Most people feel that their lives are common place. Yet, the truth is, we are all writing a unique
story with our lives. The problem is that we don’t often stop to think about how the individual
events or chapters in our day to day living are shaping that story. Even less do we stop to think
about how God is using these events to shape us into the people he wants us to be and to equip us
for the work he has called us to do. It is not until leaders take an in-depth look at their lives that they
begin to recognize God’s sovereign shaping work. It is an awesome thought that the Lord of the
universe is continually at work in our lives (Rom. 8:28).
Few people have a list of the scenes that have shaped their lives. Fewer still have written out the
scenes in narrative fashion. Even fewer have even asked the question, “What are the themes of my
stories?” It is not enough to ask, “What is God trying to teach me?” More importantly we must
ask, “What does God want me to become?” We get a glimpse of the answer only by considering the
themes of our stories.
To discover the themes, we must listen to the core stories of our lives. We must listen in the same
way we embrace a friend: with open arms, waiting, anticipating, holding and then letting go. It is
not something done in a day; it is a lifelong process. But in calling forth our core stories, we must
also participate in the ordering of them. Themes don’t smack us in the face when we look for them;
instead, we must actively arrange, rearrange, and create the order that makes most sense at any
given point in our lives.
In a tragic and wonderful sense, it is suspense and drama that brings out the reality of what is in
our hearts. The people of God are pushed against the Red Sea, and when their backs are against
the wall, they turn against God. Drama reveals. It exposes us and allows the work of God to
proceed in our lives.”
- Dan Allender, The Healing Path –
Leaders can develop perspective and gain insight into the
future by taking a journey back through the pages of their
lives. Some of these pages have painful entries; some are
filled with great moments of joy and victory. But all of
the pages are seasoned with God’s grace. Your story is a
broad-stroke picture of your life and your development as
a leader.
The Unfolding Story of Your Life
The following pages are provided to get you started in the process of understanding and writing
your life story. Specifically you will learn how to create a story board, a story line and then (time
permitting) get started at writing out the story of your life.
Writing Your Story
As you begin to write your story, many details and events will come rushing back, including
incidents and people you have not thought about for years. Here are some helps in determining what
should be included in your story.
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People – Individuals or groups who have had an impact on who you are today. Examples:
parents, siblings, friends, teachers, pastors, coaches, mentors (formal or informal)
Events – Those one-time events that had influence in shaping who you have become.
Examples: graduation, marriage, birth of a child, baptism, deaths, moves, career change,
ministry launch, crisis situations, etc.
Significant Circumstances – That affected your life direction, including incidents or
statements made about you before your birth. Examples: conflict with parents, siblings,
leadership, etc. Ongoing consequences of: divorce, abuse, relocating, choices made by
others or yourself.
Service and work experiences – Include things from volunteer service that have shaped
you, as well as from work, whether paid or unpaid, (i.e. chores etc.) that have helped shape
your character and helped form the work you are doing now.
Here are some steps that will help you in this process and leave you with three
tools you can continue to use and update through your ministry years.
I. Create a Chronological ‘Story Board’ (on pages 13-14) reflecting the
decades of your life using the sticky notes provided. This will allow you to
move and change things easily and give you a broad outline of your life. You will
be surprised how this will trigger memories and relationships that are under the
surface. Your ‘story board’ should represent the highlights of your development as a
person and as a leader. Include those things that you think are significant and help give
an overall picture of your life. Do not pressure yourself. This is for you to see and use.
Challenge yourself to be open and honest. You always have the freedom to go back and
add additional items. Let’s get started.
a. You will notice on pages 13-14 (storyboard worksheets) that a gray band has been placed
across the top of the page and a purple one across the bottom of the page. You will label
these later. Each column, or two, will represent a decade (or whatever period of time you
would like) of your life.
b. Begin writing on the yellow notes all the positive events, names of people who influenced
you, significant circumstances and experiences and place them on your board in the
approximate time frame in which they occurred, working top to bottom and left to right.
You can always move them around later.
c. Use the different coloured notes to denote the negative events, people, etc. and place
them on the board as well in the appropriate time frame.
d. Once you have filled in your rows substantially, begin to think about what you might call
each row based on the items you have placed in it and write that on the gray band at the top.
For example, one leader’s first 3 rows are entitled “Family Foundations”, “Floundering for a
While” and “Faith takes Hold”.
e. At the same time think about the primary lesson learned during that time and put that on
the purple band on the bottom. Again from a leader’s example… “My heritage is a gift
from God”, “God loves me in spite of who I am”, “God is Faithful”.
Use the next two worksheet pages to create your story board (by using sticky notes you can always
add to it later, overlap or change the sequence of events...)
II. Create a Timeline using your Story Board as a reference. Space provided on pgs. 15-16.
a. Transfer the most significant events you have noted onto the timeline using either a
picture that represents the event or a word or short phrase. Place the event above or below
the timeline depending on whether it was a high or low in your life. The higher the event
the higher you would place it and same for lower. Neutral events could be placed on the
line.
b. Once you have done that, draw a line graph of your life which shows the ebb and flow of
your life.
c. Finally, draw a vertical line at the points in your life where there was a significant change
in your view or direction. Note that some “low” points in your life may have caused
significant growth and some “high” points may not have been so great in the long run.
--------------------- See An Example of a Time Line on Page 17 ------------------------III. Write your life story in brief on page 18.
Highlight things God has used to shape you.
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Are there some things that surprised you?
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Are there some issues from that past that you might
need to deal with to free you up to live a full life?
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Notice the seasons when God seemed close or far away?
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Who are the significant people who influenced you?
LIFE STORY TIMELINE ... plot out your story on the line below (example on page 17)
EXAMPLE... Wayne Neumiller’s Timeline (used with permission!)
Writing Your ‘Life Story’ Worksheet...
Use the following pages to write your life story - as a story!!
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