Story Telling & Nature

Story Telling & Nature

by Parry Stelter

“Spiritual lessons in life that come from nature are immensely powerful because nature is all around us and they point us to Jesus.”

When I was first sobering up after being a binge drinker twenty years ago, I went to a support group for people with drinking problems. There I spent most of my time just listening to others and also taking my turn to speak about what was going on in my life. It’s great when you can find people who understand you. One time I heard a man say something humorous to another man who had spoken that day. In short, he said, “I appreciate what you are doing in your life, but half the time I can’t understand your parables.” Everyone then had a little laugh.

As an Indigenous person who loves the teachings of Jesus, I have often seen similarities between the way Jesus taught and the way many Indigenous people think. The way many of my ancestors used to teach life lessons shows our connections to each other and our connections to nature. That’s why many of the stories mentioned eagles or bears or plants or herbs.

In Matthew 13 & 14 Jesus taught in parables to the crowds and to His disciples. He used many aspects in nature to get His point across. Then He explained what the parable meant. Jesus also said that, even though He spoke in parables and explained them, unfortunately many would still not understand or respond to the Gospel message and apply it to their lives.

I have a pastor friend who is also Indigenous, and sometimes I would indirectly ask his advice through explaining a situation I was thinking about. Then, instead of him directly telling me what to do or give some options to think about, he would tell me a story. Then I had to think about his story and wonder what I was supposed to get out of it. Just because I’m Indigenous doesn’t mean I’m great at interpreting the meaning of someone’s stories! Was there some hidden meaning? What did he mean by that? Was he referring to me? So, understanding meanings behind stories isn’t always easy, whether it’s reading the parables of Jesus, or listening to Indigenous story telling.

The point I’m trying to get at is that when I look at how Jesus taught people spiritual life lessons, it’s vital to see the hidden meaning. The Bible says that those with ears to hear and eyes to see should pay attention. Matthew referred to what Isaiah said when he referred to the fact that God called him to speak truth, but the people wouldn’t listen. God wanted him to warn the people, but they wouldn’t pay attention and respond with belief and action. What a calling that was!

Jesus also said many times to His disciples that they were slow learners, and He wondered when they would have true faith. So, as believers, we need to pay attention to the stories and parables that Jesus taught us in His Word. If you understand what Jesus said, then be wise and do that thing.

My fellow Indigenous people love to tell stories, and they love to talk about the interconnectedness of everyone to each other and to nature. Jesus’ parables were meant to show us how living in the kingdom of God is meant to be. He, too, used stories from nature, including stories about weeds, wheat, yeast, and mustard seeds.

Jesus’ parables may not always be easy to understand, but with the resources we have such as commentaries and online resources, our job of understanding is made easier. Bible scholars have taken the time to help us understand these stories. Spiritual lessons in life that come from nature are immensely powerful because nature is all around us and they point us to Jesus.

I encourage you to read these stories from the Bible and, when you do understand them, share that truth with others and apply it to your own life. That’s when the Bible and these life lessons truly come alive in your life. If you are saying, “I don’t understand this parable,” then ask for help and don’t allow yourself to be a person who doesn’t understand. Be a person who wants to understand spiritual stories, and then pass those lessons on to others because that’s how the kingdom of God is built. One story at a time.

*Parry Stelter is originally from Alexander First Nation, and he and his wife live in the Edmonton, Alberta, area. This article was published in Tribal Trails News and is shared with permission by the author.