Dr. Howell’s Reflections
Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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Stories Part 7
May 1, 2025
Philosopher and Mythologist Joseph Campbell said that stories are an essential part of our individual identities, and on the macro level, they are essential to our culture. The stories we hear and tell become the myths we live by. Myths are not merely stories; they reflect the person's and society's beliefs through the use of metaphor.
Stories Part 6
April 30, 2025
The ego’s story of us is about being well protected, loved, and doing what it envisions. The healthy ego keeps us in balance. Instead of being self-absorbed, its story includes others’ needs and will put them first. The unchecked ego, however, tends to be all about the self, and it values others as means to an end. The healthy and the unchecked ego states spin two different types of stories, but both have one big thing in common — their stories are built on their concept of an ideal life.
Stories Part 5
April 29, 2025
Stories take us where we would never have imagined ourselves. Through stories, we glimpse into the lives of others, where we see and feel things that we have never seen or felt. Stories help us fill in the blanks about life’s mysteries and tell us how the universe works and how other people move through the world. Stories tell us about God and the human condition. Stories relay the ravages of evil and the virtues of the human spirit. Stories preserve history and also promote fantasy. Stories can illustrate truth, and they can also circulate lies. But one of the most integral things about them is that they help us remember.
Stories Part 4
April 28, 2025
We have a life story because we were created as part of the larger divine story. Theologian and mystic Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) is noted for believing that every human being has a divine spark or essence and is, for that reason, a divine creation. This sentiment is found in his sermons and writings. Therefore, each of our life stories is a profoundly important story about God.
Stories Part 3
April 27, 2025
Most stories share the same basic and age-old structure: first comes the situation. Then the situation has problems, and finally the problems have some sort of outcome. The story has the right to take us anywhere along the way, as long as we continue with it. And if we continue, it’s usually because we identify with some aspect of the story. We also continue because of our curiosity about the people, the unfolding of various circumstances, and of course, we want to know the outcome.
Stories Part 2
April 26, 2025
Stories have different purposes. Some inspire, some scare us, some instruct us, some heal us, and some intrigue us. Stories are as numerous as the purposes of each life on earth.
Stories Part 1
April 25, 2025
Stories are the soul of life. They make meaning out of our experiences and inspire us. They teach us about life and all its aspects. They give voice to the voiceless and courage to the weak. Stories have surprises, twists, lessons, and epiphanies. They entertain with suspense, intrigue, and taboo. They are dark and light. Stories tell us why. But they also have very private meaning for us.