There’s something special about reading true stories that are written from the heart. They not only give us a glimpse into the author’s real-life world, but they often touch on universal truths that can impact others.
For the last nine years, the creative arts program at Tabor College (now the Centre for Creative Communication) has run a short-story competition called Stories of Life. All stories are true and include an element of Christian faith, with the best stories being collected in an annual anthology. You can see past anthologies here.
I’ve been meaning to enter for years, but somehow it never seemed to be the right time or I simply didn’t get around to it. I finally sent a story in last year, and I was thrilled to have it included in their latest anthology Talking Trees and Other Stories of Life. I’ll say a bit more about it later, but I also asked some of the contributors a few curly questions about their stories. And be sure to read to the end, because there is a giveaway.
Sharing Your Struggles
Claire, you’ve been one of the editors a number of times. What surprised or delighted you most about this year’s entries?
I’m a detail person so I don’t tend to see the whole volume of Stories of Life as an entity, so much as a collection of stories I have engaged with. This edition seems to be following the trend of the last couple, as people share their struggles more openly. We had some very vulnerable stories–of deep, confusing losses, ongoing health challenges, and relationship breakdowns.
It’s great to see that miracles and remarkable answers to prayer are still happening, but I find the greatest encouragement from stories of Jesus meeting people and walking with them daily through difficult life circumstances.
Your story ‘Lifeline’ is also included in the collection. It must have taken courage to share such a vulnerable piece. What prompted you to write that story and how important is it to show vulnerability and authenticity in our writing?
On the theme of vulnerability, I wrote ‘Lifeline’ to pick up on one of the ways that God helps us in our distress. Christians have an opportunity to share their struggles with a community of believers (in real time, not just when it’s a ‘done and dusted’ testimony). The more I talk with people who don’t have a faith, the more I realise how fortunate we are to be part of the church. Not every congregation does community well, and there are always ways we can do better, but God can use our brothers and sisters of faith to support us in ways that go beyond the psychologist (as helpful as mine was). A combination of vulnerability and safe community is a door into what I reckon God had in mind when He invited us into His family.
Thanks for those thoughts, Claire. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all groups of believers were truly living out that concept of authentic Christian community?
Claire also writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction under the name Claire Belberg. Her latest book ‘Unravelling’ is a collection of poetry and reflections on loving her parents through dementia. You can find out more about Claire’s books on her website.
The Value of Diversity
Next, I asked Jenny Woolsey to share some thoughts. Jenny, you shared about your experience in having a child with Down Syndrome. What prompted you to tell your story and what do you hope readers will learn from it?
I wrote about the birth of my youngest, Jessica, and her subsequent diagnosis of Trisomy 21, which is the most common form of Down syndrome, because: (1) it was a very stressful and scary period in my life (2) my prayers weren’t answered as I wanted and (3) I felt the Holy Spirit ministering to me during my grief and depression.
I hoped by writing this piece, that more babies with Down syndrome would be given life (currently 8 out of 10 babies prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome are terminated); and to show that it’s okay to be angry with God and to grieve what God has allowed you to have, or what God has taken away. God is a good God even when we can’t see it. Lastly, I wanted to pass on hope.
You’ve certainty shown the meaning of hope. I’ve enjoyed seeing Jessica’s exploits on your author page. And congratulations to Jess for recently completing Grade 12 and for all of her swimming success.
Jenny, you’ve described yourself as a ‘diversity and inclusion advocate’. What does that look like for you? How has that influenced your writing?
I was born with a rare craniofacial syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, which my eldest two adult children have, and as already explained, my youngest has Down syndrome and autism. I also live with low vision, anxiety and depression. I don’t know what being or giving birth to ordinary, regular, pedestrian, non-medical people is like. Due to my circumstances, I write middle grade, young adult and adult stories where people are different in some way, or are experiencing domestic violence (which I have experienced). I share articles, stories and write posts to bring awareness to the inequalities and discrimination/bias/stigma that surround disabilities and difference. I also showcase achievements and the great things people are doing. Jesus loved everyone, particularly the misfits and outcasts … and so must our society.
Writing those kinds of stories is so important. Thank you for sharing them.
If you’d like to find out more about Jenny and her books, click here for her website.
Treasures in Adversity
Barbara, you had two stories in the anthology, and won second prize in the short section for one of them. Congratulations! That’s a great achievement. Both stories were prompted by an accident you had early last year. Can you tell us a bit about that and why you wanted to tell your story?
It was dusk by the time I’d finished mowing the lawn on my John Deere tractor. I hopped off and slammed awkwardly into the ground. Lying in the dirt alone that night, just over a year ago, I knew I had a serious fracture. Shock with screaming pain. My mobile phone saved me. I survived 77 days in hospital, two operations and 12 weeks of transition care. Healing took place. I can walk.
An unpredictable event, outside my control.
As a child of God, I mulled over this question, ‘How do I regard adversity as something to welcome and be glad about? Will I find rich treasure in the crucible?’ Adversity, trials and troubles do come. How do I respond?
For me, the secret was in James 1:2-4 – ‘Count it all joy when you face various trials.’
The commentary on James was the only one that survived the huge fire of 2014. I dug deeply. I studied the Greek meaning. I talked about it. I found the treasure.
What do you hope people will get out of it? When you call for help, God hears. He brought kindness from many. My prayer is that others who face tough stuff in life will reach out for help, and not quit. Knowing His presence and comfort in adversity shows you are a fighter. You highlight to others your faith is real, enduring and you can survive. You are forced to face your mortality and think about heaven.
It’s great to see there was hope and treasure there in amongst the trials. You’ve recently turned 80. That’s quite a milestone. What would you say to other spring chickens like yourself who might think it’s too late to tell their stories?
When my husband of 41 years died from cancer in 2014, grief and loss overwhelmed me. ‘Find your passions,’ a friend said.
Despite being an ADHD type with flight of ideas, I discovered Cecily Patterson’s ‘Write your Memoir’ course. Every principle she taught, I embraced. I was 75. One day, I said to myself ‘I will write my first chapter’. Writing was therapeutic just like morphine.
For the next five years, I made myself vulnerable. I was fearful of good writers/authors, but I conquered those fears by attending conferences and chatting to them. Now, I respect them. I honour them. I ask them questions. I’ve been astonished that they have believed in me, encouraged cognitive plasticity, and given me feedback.
In 2024, when my body was gripped with pain, two lecturers from Tabor College became my best encouragers. At 79, I decided to study one subject in a post-graduate writing course. Not only did I survive, I thrived.
At 19, in my first year of nursing, I surrendered my life to Jesus. I was taught to ‘walk by faith’, to trust God and His words in the Bible. Over sixty years, God has not failed me. Yes, life is tough and I weep, but I will not quit until I take my last breath. And this season of solitude in my life is a gift.
As the ‘outward body perishes’ it’s scary. But my story and your story is unique. Maybe, before I kick the bucket, my memoir, ‘The Untamed Preacher’s Wife’ will be published.
That’s so inspiring, Barbara, and good advice for anyone, regardless of age. I’m looking forward to seeing your memoir in print.
Barbara and I are in the same writing group, along with our friend Philippa who won second prize in her section and is also included in the anthology. That’s her in the photo, behind the flowers and under the baseball cap. Remember that TV ad where you saw the back of someone brushing their teeth and the voiceover said something like, ‘This is Rob. We can’t show you his face because he’s a dentist?’ Well, it’s a bit like that with Philippa, but we’re thrilled for her and so glad she’s in our group. Which brings me to my story.
Unexpected Answers
My husband Tim and I married a bit later in life, when I was 36 and he was 43. We wanted to start a family, and spent many years trying, but it wasn’t to be. We’ve had a happy life and there is a lot to be grateful for, but there was something missing with the loss of a dream. I’d tried to put my thoughts on paper before, and had a draft of a story written more than a decade ago, but whenever I thought about entering it in the Stories of Life competition, it just didn’t seem to be the best time. I didn’t have the right ending.
Fast forward to last year and I felt God gave me some further insight through the caring words of a dear friend. No, the word wasn’t that I would be like Sarah or Elizabeth and have a child in my old age (Phew!). But it did give me a new perspective that helped me to see that God is still faithful even when our prayers aren’t answered in the way we expect. Notice that I didn’t say the prayers were ‘not answered’ but ‘not answered in the way we expect’. So what was this relevation that gave me a change in perspective? Well, that would be a spoiler, so you’ll just have to read the story! It’s a bit of a gut-wrencher in parts, but has a hopeful ending that I hope will resonate with others.
How to Purchase
You can purchase the book from the bookstore at the Stories of Life website. You can also purchase the book directly from the publisher at Immortalise. And thank you to Ben Morton for a great job in producing the book; and to Claire Bell, James Cooper and Esther Cremona for their editorial expertise.
Giveaway
I have a print copy of Talking Trees to give to one lucky reader. In order to enter the draw, simply leave a comment on this blog post by midnight on Sunday 16 February 2025 (Australian Eastern Standard time). The winner will be determined by a random draw of all eligible entries. Please note that contributors to the volume and those involved in its production/publication are not eligible. For full terms and conditions, please click here.
Please note that the giveaway has now ended. The winner of the random draw was Naomi.
All of our stories are important because we are all of value and no one has had the exact experiences and insights that we have. Do you have a story from your life that is percolating away or ready to burst forth? Start jotting down your thoughts and you never know where they will lead.
Photo Credits
Featured photo by Johnny Gunn on Pixabay. Nola Lorraine photo by Wayne Logan at Encouraging Photos. All others photos supplied by contributors.
33 Responses
Thank you, Nola, for inviting me to be part of this conversation. It’s an incredible privilege to be part of the Stories of Life production team, reading people’s personal stories, helping them to hone their writing during Feedback Month, and encouraging Christians everywhere that their story matters and can help others. Congratulations on submitting your story and having it published in the anthology. Please send us more!
Thanks for all the work you and the team do on the anthology, Claire. I’ve been meaning to enter for ages, so I’m glad I finally got around to it. I was touched by the number of people who made themselves vulnerable in sharing their stories. I think those types of stories really resonate with readers.
A great read, Nola – thank you. I have had my stories published in Stories of Life several times in recent years and also won a couple of prizes along the way, but I just didn’t manage to find time to enter last year. It’s lovely to see how writers I know did, however, and do so well. God bless you all for sharing from your heart.
Jo, I’ve seen your contributions before and you’ve been a stalwart in getting your stories out there, not just in this anthology, but in all your books and blog posts. Your writing has been a blessing to many. I’m glad I finally wriggled myself along to do something about my story.
Thanks Nola
So good to read the stories behind the story for each of the writers.
It’s a great book – I have read it from cover to cover and gone back to re-read some stories again. Very encouraging to hear how God has walked with people through their lives.
Wow, that’s a great recommendation, Pam. The writing is of a really high standard, but it’s also good to see how people were willing to share their struggles and how they found light and hope in the midst of those circumstances. Thanks for commenting.
A lot of my stories are hidden away, like gems that need to be mined, but I’ve begun sharing in closed circles and I believe it’s time to give hope to others in a broader context. So, watch out for the next instalment. You might find a story about Hidden Identity.
Wow, that sounds exciting, Lexia. It took me a long time to share the story that I’ve told in this volume, but I think that was also because I didn’t really have a good ending until recently. Sometimes putting our true stories out there is like taking baby steps, perhaps first sharing one we feel more comfortable with, then gradually sharing the more difficult stories as we feel more confident in putting them out there. I think readers are blessed when they can see someone is being authentic in sharing their struggles. I’ll look forward to reading your stories when it’s the right time. I wonder if you’ll turn out to be a spy?? Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Nola for your generous gift of encouragement to so many and for sharing your own personal story of conquering hope. Thanks for including my story. I’m humbled. When I see words published, it feels as if each writer has set these stories in concrete to be read over and over…and for what purpose…to be edified. XO
Thanks Barbara. It’s been great to see you grow in confidence in telling your stories, because they will be a blessing to many. And there is something to be said for putting those stories in concrete, whether it’s in a book, an article, a blog post or even a letter to a friend. The words can live on long after we’re gone. I wonder what some of the authors of the New Testament would think if they knew we’d still be reading their words, and being blessed by them, more than 2000 years later? Keep on writing, you spring chicken you!
Congrats to everyone whose stories are featured! How proud you must be to step forward and share a precious piece of your life, showing real courage and vulnerability.
I’ve been writing for many years, but always fiction. I’ve only (very briefly) thought about what it would be like to write something from my own life story; never really felt that there was anything worth telling. I suppose that’s not true. But bravery comes before the sharing … and I’m not quite there yet.
Thanks Naomi. It’s interesting you say that you never felt there was anything worth telling from your life (and I’m glad you realise that isn’t true). I had written a few memoir pieces years ago that were published, but I was thinking that I had already told all my ‘big’ stories and there wasn’t much else. Then God challenged me last year to look back at my Quiet Time journals, and there would be hundreds of things I could share. It’s not always about something big and exciting. Sometimes just a small little encounter or an insight into a situation can really resonate with someone else and be just the thing they needed to hear at the time. The vulnerability bit is hard. The piece I have in Stories of Life is probably the most vulnerable, raw story I have ever put out in the public domain, but it seemed like the right time. Often we can take baby steps and share something we’re comfortable with and work up to the big ones. And even if your main genre is fiction, readers would still be interested in finding out a bit more about the author behind the stories. Thanks for commenting.
Words of wisdom–right there. Little things to share … that’s a wonderful idea, and definitely something to think about. Even in the small happenings of life, there are emotions and sentiments that people can (and often) relate to.
Thanks Nola 🙂
Thanks Naomi. I’m not sure if you do any journalling, but I find it’s handy to have a separate notebook for those ‘small happenings’ of life that you might be able to write about. I’ll look forward to seeing you launch some of your insights into the world.
So many inspiring stories by courageous women. Thank you Nola for your encouragement and support and for uncovering the back stories for these hope-filled pieces.
Thanks Linda. There are some inspiring stories in the anthology for sure, and it’s amazing how many of them were birthed in difficult times. Yet hope shines through them all. And never fear. I will keep nagging (oops … encouraging) people to submit their stories. We all have something to say that can touch people. Thanks for commenting.
Nola thanks for talking to the authors and telling their perspectives as well as your own. It’s always good to hear how others are finding God helping them through their struggles. Those verses about thanking God when life is hard all sound great but sometimes it’s hard to do in the midst of it, so reading others’ stories is very helpful. What you do is helpful.
Thanks for those kind words, Greg. I appreciate your encouragement. Sometimes it’s easy to think that we’re the only ones struggling with something because everyone else seems to have it all together. Sadly, that can sometimes be even more pronounced in some Christian circles. But I think people respond better to seeing how someone worked through their struggles with God’s help. Much better than just giving pat answers. There were so many inspiring stories in this anthology. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thank you, Nola, not only for your willingness to be vulnerable, but for your gentle art of persuasion which leads others to dare to step out and share as God leads them forward. I enjoyed reading the back-stories shared by you and your guests today. I’ve no doubt those stories will prove to be of great encouragement and positive challenge to readers.
Thanks for your encouragement, Mazzy. I have translated ‘gentle art of persuasion’ as ‘nagging’, and will be happy to keep using that ministry in our group. You have lots of amazing stories to share. I’m looking forward to seeing some more of them in print. Thank you for your kind words.
Nola, I found all of these interviews really touching and interesting. Now, I want to read them all–you are a master of suspense! Life stories are the most fascinating, especially when they include the vulnerability of the authors. When everything seems too perfect I think we get a little suspicious!
Faith is a working struggle as well a joyful journey.
Looking forward to reading more stories of life.
Hi Elaine – Thank you for that. There are a lot of amazing stories in this volume. I agree that it’s the vulnerability of the author that can really touch someone. I’ve read a lot of memoirs that are just like that. But I also remember reading the autobiography of a prominent Christian leader, and he just went from one glowing victory to another. I couldn’t relate to it at all. I assume he had challenages and struggles like everyone else, but they weren’t in the book. It takes courage to share that side though. Thanks for commenting.
Thank you Nola. Your sensitive questioning of the backstories drew responses which created more understanding and curiosity to read each full story. As a product of a strict protestant childhood, then a student of faith-based religions and always seeking answers about human / God relationships, I am now keen to dive into the book. Thanks to all the contributors for your sharing.
Hi Lyndall – thank you for that and for sharing something of your background. I was amazed at how much people were able to give of themselves in telling their stories. Although each story had a faith-based element, it was never pushy, with people just sharing from their hearts. I think people are looking for those genuine encounters. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Dear Nola, I have found these comments to be very useful. I haven’t been as active in writing as I once was for a number of reasons. I remember waiting for your book ‘Scattered’ to come out and read and enjoyed it. My husband went to be with the Lord in quite a dramatic way at the end of August and I miss him dearly. He was one of those ‘full on’ people. I have found it more difficult to concentrate in some areas since his Homecall, but I have started writing memories in a note book for the children. I still am keen to write but need to find where to start. Thank you for your continued encouragement as I do keep reading the Christian Writing groups to which I belong. I remember meeting you at one of your book signings for ‘Scattered’. We came to the shop that day especially to meet you.
Every blessing, Heather
Hi Heather – Thank you for that. I do indeed remember meeting you that day. I remember seeing your posts about your husband’s passing. Grief is a difficult thing to navigate and everyone approaches it differently. Take the time you need and be kind to yourself. Jottings in a notebook are of value in themselves and one day you will be able to turn them into something beautiful to bless your grandchildren. Thank you for your encouragement. Take care.
Wow! So enjoyed your blog on the latest Stories of Life Anthology and you’ve given me itchy hands … I MUST get a copy of it soon. How lovely it is to read of God’s reality in the lives of many faithful Christians and I do look forward to reading them. Thank you for sharing Nola. May God do a wonderful work in hearts who read the stories. Thank you for inspiring us and making us eager to read the book! Bless you! And congratulations my friend for getting a story in there! I know it will be a beautiful story from your gifted pen and your God-inspired heart.
Thank you Anusha. I know you’ve had a number of your stories in previous volumes that have blessed people. It’s a great opportunity to share what God’s doing in our lives, but also to hear so many other amazing stories. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve enjoyed the last few I’ve read. Thank you for sharing these stories. Sounds like this book is just as inspiring.
Hi Dienece – There are certainly a lot of inspiring stories. It’s interesting to see how God is working differently in so many lives. Thanks for commenting.
I always enjoy your newsletters. They are so newsy and informative. I’ve been entering the Stories of Life Competition for years, and my stories have always been included in their anthologies, but
I’ve never won a prize in the Tabor Competitions, so I’ve given up. However, I still enjoy reading the stories of faith.
Hi Hazel – Please don’t be discouraged that you haven’t won a prize. I think they get a lot of entries, so you’re already a winner by having your stories included, and I’m sure they’ve blessed many people. Keep telling your stories. They do make a difference. And thank you for your kind words about my newsletter. I try to make them of interest for readers. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi everyone – Thank you for your comments. I enjoyed reading them. The giveaway is now finished and the winner of the random draw is Naomi. Congratulations, Naomi. You will receive a copy of the book shortly.
Comments are still open though, so feel free to keep sharing your thoughts about this post.