In recent years, much has been said and written about the drama of story and the role of the “big story” to address what’s missing in our hearts and lives.  When it comes to screenplay writing, for instance, you first write the backstory for each character. All the characters are brought together into the big story for a reason. When we think of God’s “big story,” that’s true of every character—those of us who actively follow Jesus, and those who don’t yet.

Furthermore, about ten or twelve pages into the typical screenplay, the writer presents the “inciting incident,” the moment that propels the characters into the big story. In our lives, the inciting event is the moment a person starts thinking about the big picture, what we again call God’s “big story.”

Whatever you do with your neighbor or new friend, don’t try to trigger an inciting incident too quickly. Think of those first ten or twelve screenplay pages as your opportunity to listen, and to start to hear their particular backstory. Hear the whole backstory, no matter how long, and no matter how many minutes or hours it takes to hear it. Listen, with love, knowing God is listening too—and ready to speak to their heart.

This is Andrew Palau.