Show, Don’t Tell
Table of Contents from Bible read with Kirstin
Show, don’t tell. This advice is great to follow if you want to engage a reader into the emotion and actions of a character rather than bore them to tears with a toast-dry, point-by-point narrative of how the character feels. Put the reader right in the story.
Speaking of dry toast, do not tell me to read the Bible and pray. No, no, no. I know myself well enough that I will set out with great gusto to do these things. All of me wants to recall scripture from memory like Mike Coughlin, think of life illustrations from Jesus like Al Hulbert, and zealously follow after God’s heart like Steve Toomey. I also know in a day or two I’ll be over it. It will not happen.
I was an accidental disciple of Sue Hoyt, a cherished former First Baptist employee who has long since moved away from Bend. A long time ago she was leading a Bible study with twelve or so women in attendance. Sue became very ill, taken out of commission by a crushing pain in her neck. She asked me to step in and lead the study while she was down.
I was quaking in my Nikes, but I did what Sue asked and eventually became comfortable rallying women around God’s Word. Sue, Pastor Syd, and others were in the wings, cheering me on, encouraging me with their prayers, and always ready to answer my questions. It was kind of how I learned to swim when my dad tossed me into the lake—not very well, but I figured it out.
We read of Jesus and his chosen twelve roaming the countryside. Jesus talked to the disciples about his Father. In 2022 we relate this to an older person leading a younger person in The Way. Show—don’t tell. But, how do we mentor another if we have not been mentored?
We would not set a newborn baby in a room and wave a hand around the house to show it where the diapers and bottles are, wishing the newborn well, and then returning to our own business. Do we treat young Christians this way, turning them loose in youth group, life groups, or church, letting them “figure it out” on their own? Surely a new Christian will not make as much noise as an unattended infant!
What is it to be a Christian? Obey the house rules and avoid being seen living your best real life in public? Do we show people how to read the Bible and pray? Being in church makes you a Christian about as much as being in the garage makes you a car. We get to know God one page at a time, one prayer at a time, one day at a time. It is so much better when we embrace the fellowship of another. Here is my experience:
Kirstin Nickel and I became acquainted right before launching on a trip to Latvia. It was her last year of high school youth group, and she wanted to participate in going to build the lodge at the Eagle’s Wings camp. I volunteered to go as the female leader for that trip. I did not know what a huge blessing would come to me beside going to Latvia. Today Kirstin is one of my best friends.
Our journey for Bible reading began. I picked up two blue covered paperback copies of the Bible in the New Living Translation. Across from each other, I read a chapter, she read a chapter, I read a chapter, she read a chapter. The first book we read together was Ezekiel. We read upstairs in the old kitchen of one of the cabins at the camp in October 2014. Our last book was Revelation in March 2022. We read at Starbucks, Lone Pine, Market of Choice, Foundry Church, my house, her house, camping at East Lake, flying in an airplane, and lots of time over the phone. She travelled to Arizona, California, Washington, Florida, Latvia, Spain, Portugal, France, and Croatia. She was 18 when we started and 25 when we finished. I never aged.
I have a friend for life. Kirstin has been loved and discipled by many besides me. Bryon Mengle, Doug Barram, Mike and Linda Keeley, Steve Toomey, Francie Towne, and so many others have come alongside her to encourage her in the Lord and in life. Surely, she has discipled all of us as well. We’ve had a grand time “one-anothering”, and I don’t see an end in sight.
Our girl lives in Florida now. She and her husband, Zoe, are trying to forge a life together. We still talk every week. We read together, pray, talk, laugh, cry—always doing life together.
Show, don’t tell. It is a great rule for writing and a great rule for life.