Liz’s story, 21 days, was published in the 2018 Stories of Life anthology, Three Dummies in a Dinghy Today she shares the backstory to her piece:

I first heard of the Stories of Life competition when someone shared it on Facebook. Immediately I thought it would be something I would like to try. I wrote stories a lot as a child/teenager and studied English at university, but it had been many years since I had written a story of my own. What drew me to Stories of Life, was the idea of writing a story that showed the way God was at work in my life.

However, as I looked at some of the past stories I began to wonder whether I had any interesting stories to share. I had been a stay-at-home Mum for a number of years and didn’t have any exciting tales of physical danger or recent overseas travel. So…what could I write about? Did I have any stories that anyone would want to read? After a while I decided to come back to the vision of the competition, which was sharing stories of faith from everyday life. I began to think about the things God taught me while my husband was away for work for three weeks and I was left to solo-parent our three, young daughters.

At the time, I wasn’t sure how I was going to survive, but by God’s grace I did (and so did the girls!). Actually, I didn’t just survive, but instead God used those 21 days to change me, my heart and my attitude to parenting. 21 days is about God’s faithfulness in our everyday struggles and the power of prayer.

I wrote the story at my kitchen table in 10min increments, taking any opportunity while the kids were happily entertained to add another paragraph. Although a nice, clean, quiet writing space would have been great – I feel like there is something fitting about writing about life as a Mum of three young children in this way!

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to enter my story in the Stories of Life competition. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on the gifts God has given me and the way he uses difficult circumstances to teach us lessons of patience, humility and love. And for that, I am thankful.

If you haven’t read Liz’s story, grab a copy of Three Dummies in a Dinghy or head over to our archives to listen to past Stories of Life.

Could your story be published in the 2019 Stories of Life anthology? We have writing resources to help you get started. Sign up for our Editing Workshop on 13 June or check out our categories and send us your story. We’d love to hear from you.

Tsung’s story, The Year, was published in the 2018 Stories of Life anthology, Three Dummies in a Dinghy.

Tsung shares the backstory to his piece:

I wrote The Year covering events of the year after the passing of my wife, Betty, in 2016. She was 43 years old and had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of melanoma 18 month prior.Throughout this period, I found writing and putting my thoughts and feelings on paper (well, screen) helped me reflect on the situations of my life. So I figured it would fit well as an entry for Stories of Life.

When I was done, I sent out my initial draft to a few close friends and they noticed that I hadn’t mentioned Betty in the story. It was a deliberate choice on my part as I had wanted to try to convey that something was missing in the story – in this case, someone very dear to Shaoey and I.

I still try continue to reflect on events by translating them to written words. I post my Confessions of a Clueless Dad series on my Facebook page – very irregularly I must say – which allows me to use words, and photos, as a mirror to life. These two photos were taken at Mt.Lofty on the day of our arrival in Adelaide in Jan 2018.

If you haven’t read Tsung’s story, it is well worth buying a copy of Three Dummies in a Dinghy just to read ‘The Year’ and, as a bonus, you’ll also get another forty-three true stories of faith. You can also head over to our archives to listen to past Stories of Life.

Could your story be published in the 2019 Stories of Life anthology? We have writing resources to help you get started. Sign up for our Editing Workshop on 13 June or check out our categories and send us your story. We’d love to hear from you.

Ethan won first prize in the Lutheran Education Young Stories of Life competition in 2018. He also visited the LifeFM studios in Adelaide and recorded his story for broadcast over the 2018/2019 summer. This is his story.

Thank you to the Joppich family for supplying these photos, taken over six years ago.

If you’ve enjoyed Ethan’s story, head over to archive for more Stories of Life, or grab a copy of Three Dummies in a Dinghy for the full 2018 collection.

Could your story be published in the 2019 Stories of Life anthology? We have writing resources to help you get started. Check out our categories and send us your story. We’d love to hear from you.

Craig’s story Birdman was published in the 2018 Stories of Life anthology, Three Dummies in a Dinghy. He also visited the LifeFM studios in Adelaide and recorded his story for broadcast over the 2018/2019 summer.

Backstory for Bird Man

Over a period of time, I observed a man who regularly frequented the carpark at my local beach. It appeared that he would often park there during breaks in his work routine. What was interesting about him was the way the seagulls gathered on, and even in, his vehicle. He had obviously spent sufficient time with them to ensure they were comfortable in his presence.

I began thinking about the connection this man appeared to have with the gulls. I also speculated in regard to the events of his life and why he was drawn to this spot.

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I have not had opportunity to meet Bird Man in person. There is a part of me which prefers it this way, as I can imagine his circumstances without being restricted by facts! He reminds me of the importance of removing myself from distractions and coming to God in stillness.

About Craig Chapman        

Craig has been writing for many years – poetry, fiction, non-fiction. He has contributed several stories to the three Stories of Life anthologies and is also a published novelist. His book, Succession Plan, was published in 2017. It is a biblical fiction story, set at the end of King David’s life and based on events described in the first chapter of 1Kings. His website is craigchapman.org. Craig enjoys outdoor adventure and is a regular blogger on seedtrek.com.

If you’ve enjoyed Craig’s story, head over to archive for more Stories of Life, or grab a copy of Three Dummies in a Dinghy for the full 2018 collection.

Last year, Jeanette’s story, ‘My friend Peter’ was published in the 2018 Stories of Life anthology, ‘Three Dummies in a Dinghy.’

We sincerely apologise, Jeanette, for formatting mistakes in published version and we have uploaded the clean and correct version here.

‘My friend Peter’ is a very  an important story. It speaks of youthful adventures, friendship and ageing. How marvellous that through this story, Peter gives us all this important message about old age and dementia.

Thanks again, Jeanette, for your story,  My Friend Peter.

 

 

Levi’s story, A realisation, was published in the 2018 anthology, Three Dummies in a Dinghy, and also broadcasted on Life FM.

 

 

‘Stories of Life has been a great opportunity and motivation to gain some writing skills and experience. But I think the biggest impact that Stories of Life has had on my life has been reading the stories of other people around my home city who have been impacted and used by God in incredible and inspiring ways.’

Levi Schubert

If you’ve enjoyed this story, head over to our archives for more 2017 Stories of Life, or grab a copy of Three Dummies in a Dinghy for the full 2018 collection.