Years ago I scribbled this on a file folder which held notes and scraps of paper in my desk drawer.
“What is truer than true? A story.”
Today is a day for stories.

In the Christian community, today is Palm Sunday.
The start of Holy Week.
On one side of the city, Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey accompanied by disciples and friends waving palm branches and singing. On the other side of the city, Pilate enters Jerusalem riding on a stallion surrounded by Roman soldiers equipped for war. Ready to keep the peace.
One one side the promise wrapped up in the Reign of God.
On the other side rides the promise of the Reign of Caesar.
One one side Pax Romana.
On the other side is the peace of God.
Standing there
Or, where you are right now
Which way will you look?

For the Jewish community, yesterday was the beginning of Passover.
The story of slavery and oppression in Egypt.
The story of promise and hope even if that meant the uncertainty of fleeing into the wilderness.
The story is told in the present tense.
“My father was a wandering Aramean…”  (Deuteronomy 26:5)
Which makes it, forever, a story about today.
And, about you and me.
Back towards what you know?
Or forward to what might be?
Which way will you look?

Christian or not.
Jewish or not.
Which side of these stories is true?
Which one will hold sway?
Shaping who you are and how you think?
Your view of others and your vision for tomorrow?

And to add to our conversation about stories, there are these…
Grievance and Possibility by Seth Godin.
Determining America’s National Myth Will Determine The Country’s Fate by Colin Woodward.
The first is a blog to which I subscribe and which is easy to read.
The other is an article sent to me by a friend which requires a bit more time and thought.
Each, in their own way, asks the question.
What story do we tell ourselves and what story we chose to live by?
Is our story one of grievance?
Or one of possibility?
Is the story we tell ourselves one of a steady march towards increased liberty and equality and freedom for all?
Or, one of a preordained hierarchy?
I am better than you. We are better than they are.

Both touch on where we are today as a nation.
With our divisive political discourse and our fractured national identity
Each day we are left to ask ourselves
Which of these two stories is true?
And, which story will we choose?