The secret message

(Not a religious post!)
Fifteen years ago, I was leaving the tube when a random woman came up to me, took a deep breath and said “Excuse me. This is going to sound REALLY weird but God has given me a Bible verse for you.”

Yup, that was weird. I stared at her.

She blurted out a chapter and verse then hurried off looking very embarassed.

Okay I wasn’t religious but this was like getting a secret message from the cosmos so I decided to look it up when I got home.

A bit of context: I was in a tough financial situation back then with no idea how I would earn my next bit of money. I’d just lost an admin job, had no useful qualifications, couldn’t even land a job stacking shelves – my only option seemed to be to return to the film industry as an electrician- surely impossible when I was caring for two young kids.
I was exploring the idea of becoming a storyteller as a living, but the facts were discouraging. I’d looked into the practicalities, how many bookings I’d need (dozens!) how much I’d need to charge (so much!) I was feeling desperate, as if I had no options.

On that particular day, I was on the tube home to an empty fridge. I’d been on a free storytelling course run by Camden Libraries. The only reason I could go was because it was free. The facilitator was incredible and I felt so inspired. It was the first time I’d felt that I really truly wanted to take storytelling seriously as an art form and yet even so, the idea of getting PAID for it, enough to LIVE ON (?!) was unimaginable.

I went home and looked up the Bible verse. It said:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

I read it again and again. It was as if a God I didn’t believe in had announced that I had a future as a storyteller! (And ‘prosper’ me too? That sounded good!)

Okay, not everyone likes Bible verses, so it’s probably not a good idea to share them around too freely but in this case, for me, as a non believer, it was incredibly powerful to be told that I had a hope and a future. The right words, said at the right time can make ALL the difference!
I felt totally empowered.

If it wasn’t for that free course and clear words of encouragement from a stranger, I would not be a storyteller now.

THAT is why I think it’s so crucial to encourage, encourage, encourage new artists as they come through. We can speak their success into being.
Let us always encourage people, it means the world to have someone believe in you.
And it’s also is why I created and crowdfunded Space for Storytelling, free accessible workshops for everyone who is drawn to the artform. I needed free workshops and now I want others to have them too.

If you want to know about our upcoming workshops (or hear me tell stories) sign up to my mailing list here.

PS pic shows me five years later