Just How Badly Do We Need A Story?

1. Hey folks – a quick word on location before the other details. We’re back at Creative Manitobafrom now until the end of June, at which time the plan is to return to Pantages. Creative Manitoba is located at  245 McDermot Avenue. We meet on the fourth floor. You can take the elevator (if you dig almost-but-not-quite-vintage mechanical experiences), or take the stairs for a timeless encounter with gravity. For the elevator, go in the inconspicuous door nearest to where we put out our sign, up a short flight of stairs and down the hall to the elevator on your right. For the stairs, take the main entry on the corner of McDermot and Arthur and follow the wide, curved staircase up to the fourth floor.

   Kids Table– Kid’s Table programming is scheduled to continue until the end of May. However, this Sundaywill be the exception. We will be able to provide a space and some activity materials, but there will not be a program leader, so parents should come prepared with those expectations.

   Talky Bit– Stories matter…a lot. The stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the world can easily end up being our religions (formally or otherwise), and we can get pretty distressed when we feel like we don’t know the plot for life, the universe and everything. We live in an age where Western thought emphasizes the idea that there is no over-arching narrative that binds everything together. That can be disconcerting…but it can also be liberating, especially if we’ve experienced “binding narrative” as something more like “chaffing narrative”.

   This Sundaywe’re going to start a three week encounter with some film-based consideration of the importance of Story. We’ll be screening a short film that uses a looped clip from the movie Grease (and no, the short film is NOT of the same vintage as the Grease clip) to rather creatively raise some questions about our contemporary hunger for a story that helps things to make sense, and what it feels like when that doesn’t work out the way we want it to. We’ll be following that up in the subsequent two weeks with some excerpts from another film-based presentation of a “big picture” way of thinking about themes that surround us, and from which we might consider forming stories. Bring popcorn and an open (read – “renewable”) mind, and we’ll go exploring together.

   And while we’re on the topic of upcoming Sunday morning gatherings,  two other important details. I’ll be away for the last three Sundays of June soaking up a chunk of family time, and the Talky Bit will be in the capable hands of Tim Penner, Arielle and Kathy. I’m excited about holidays, and bummed to miss what I’m sure will be intriguing explorations.

   Also, a reminder that we will continue to gather on Sunday mornings at the usual time throughout the summer, with the exception of the July and August long weekends. I would encourage you to deliberately do something that you find consciously renewing on those dates, if it all possible.

   In the meantime, I’ll see you on Sunday.

   Peace,

   Tim Plett