I am always on the lookout for stories that bring something more to listeners than a clever twist of plot. Something that the listener can relate to. Call it a message. It might give the listener a suggestion of a new direction. There could even be an outright moral. The name one might give to this ephemeral quality is not as important as the fact that the stories I tell actually possess it.
Even when I was growing up, I found myself deeply touched by inspirational stories. I heard similar stories from my mother and my grandfather. Once in a while, a teacher would tell a story that held profound meaning to me. I was surprised to find how memorable those stories were. To this day I still remember and follow those messages. The Golden Rule. Honesty is the best policy. Take time to smell the flowers. Give back to your community. Messages that made me who I am today.
I find myself using stories I heard long ago when I perform today. They have an ageless quality. The messages are as relevant now as they were long ago.
Whats so important about inspirational stories? For one thing, we experience a deluge of information and news on a daily basis. Second, the lives we live give us no breathing space to reflect. And without time to reflect, how can we develop insight into the affairs of the day? This is where inspirational stories serve us well. A listener can mull over inspirational stories. They offer something to think about. Something that points us a bit closer to our "true north." Something that gives us perspective.
Looking for inspiration? You can find inspirational stories and more at www.jaystetzer.com. On the "Listen" page of my website, click any one of the story samples and you are likely to find a message worth your time. Two good examples of inspirational stories are "The Egg Seller" and "Herschel and the Wedding" from my CD World Full of Stories. "Service with a Smile" on my Parking in Manhattan CD offers the listener a great hidden lesson. Long after they are told, inspirational stories stay in the memory. In fact, the inspirational stories I tell even inspire me!
We live in a complex, fast moving world. As we head on down the highway of life, we can all use a little direction to guide us. Inspirational stories can help us in our travels. Like having your own spiritual GPS! Theres a wealth of inspirational stories available on all of my recordings. Listen for yourself!

About the Author

For the real stuff on priceless humor, goto pricelesshumor.blogmyz.com.