As the story goes, Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to tell a story in six words. Purportedly, his response was “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” The former SMITH magazine re-ignited the challenge asking readers to submit their own six-word memoirs. Subscribers did and they crossed the spectrum from the bittersweet (cursed with cancer; blessed with friends), poignant (I still make coffee for two), to the inspirational (business school – bah; pop music – hurrah!) This phenomenon took on a life of its own and replaced SMITH magazine with a project called the Six Word Memoir.
If you consider the well-known story of Jesus’ birth and the various people who watched heaven come to earth, each one of them might have a six-word memoir from their unique experience. As we journey through the season of Advent and Christmas, we will wrestle with a suggestion of what they might say and how we might see the story through their eyes and words. I invite you to join me as we consider these stories, what they say, and how we might also express our view of the Christmas story.
Come and join us this Advent beginning with the Hanging of the Greens, Sunday, November 30th as we read and reflect on the Christmas Story and those who tell us their version.
