Surrounded By Story

by Beth Vogt @BethVogt

More and more, I have come to love story.

My life story — and other people’s life stories, too.

To be honest, there are times I see someone and, at first, I’m closed to their story. Maybe they seem a little too different from me … and I’m put off. But I’ve learned to say to myself, “This person is made in the image of God,” and doing so opens me to their story.

And then I ask that person about the tattoos on their arms — and learn about their grandfather who lived in Germany and owned a cuckoo clock (true story). Or I compliment someone on their multicolored hair — and earn a surprised look, a hesitant smile, and a “thank you.” Who knows? Maybe for that brief moment, I added a bit of positive to that person’s story.

Sometimes we only get bits and pieces of another person’s story. Sometimes we are invited into another person’s life — and we become friends. A part of their story. Whatever, story is everywhere. And story is valuable.

When someone shares the truth of who they are with me, I am blessed. I am honored by their honesty. I am changed as they tell me of obstacles overcome, lessons learned, and how love has healed their wounds.

In Your Words: When has someone else’s story encouraged you?

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Surrounded by story - @BethVogt on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Beth K. Vogt is a nonfiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she'd never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four who said she'd never have kids. Now Beth believes God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." A women's fiction novelist, Beth's first novel for Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, releases May 2018.

Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2014. A November Bride was part of the Year of Wedding series by Zondervan. Having authored nine contemporary romance novels or novellas, Beth believes there's more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us.

An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and also enjoys speaking to writers' groups and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories. Connect with Beth at  bethvogt.com.