One of the many things that drew me to Surrey Christian School is our interest in stories – our desire to hear and honour the stories of our students and our community, to share the stories of our learning, and for all of us to find our place in God’s story of restoration, hope and generous love. I love our love for stories.

In Spoken Language 11 this year, students practiced the tradition of oral storytelling by choosing a significant story from their life to share with their peers. The students spent time drafting and rehearsing with their classmates, giving one another feedback, suggesting next steps, and asking each other questions about what they heard: What is your friend Brandon like? How would you describe the streets of Seoul at 2:00 am? What were you feeling when you woke up in the hospital?

As I made my way from group to group, I noticed a sense of genuine curiosity amongst the students. They were listening to the stories of their peers – stories of loss and reunion, stories of pain and healing, stories of uncertainty and hope. And they were asking questions because they wanted to know more, more of the story and more of the person telling the story. The curiosity that my students displayed for one another demonstrated their appreciation and love for one another; ultimately, their curiosity was a form of care.

Stories make us curious. Because they give us glimpses into each other’s lives, glimpses into the truth of what is around us, they make us curious about each other, and they make us curious about the world. When we practice this curiosity by listening to stories, sharing stories, and reading stories, we are being attentive, and this attention – this seeing and knowing – is care.

By Katy Dekens