The Starling Storm
Christ told me to scream, shout, and yell my story.
I did.
Now, shh. Shh. Listen. Do you hear it?
The thunder crash of survivors speaking up.
Survivor after survivor, Latter-day Saint women and men, telling their stories. Not in hatred, not in shame, not scared of anger, not fearing pain.
Arms open, head back, and singing of a Savior's love.
Each story a new starling rising to the storm,
Lightning in their throat,
Glorifying the God who gave us the power to SPEAK.
What was the only thing that could scare off the starling storm ?
The sound of their own voices, amplified 100 times, shouted back at them.
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Yet, the number of starlings who flock to Rome keep on growing.
It probably isn't fair that the people of Rome get covered in starling poo. Isn't talking about sexual abuse messy and uncomfortable too? I hope for a world that does not only complain about the mess, but looks up in awe. And when they do, they ask: why are those starlings here? What have they got to teach me? I pray we may sit a moment longer in the storm, long enough to see ourselves in it too.
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Until then, I don't know about you, but if flying with my starling brothers and sisters mean we poop some truth on someone else's parade, so be it. I choose to focus on the beauty of the flight.
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The clear-sighted will know to look up instead of down.
Tell your story
You're not alone.
We need stories like we need crystals in a chandelier.
Each one glorifies the light in a new way.
Can't wait to hear you scream, yell, and shout
your story.
@starlingwarrior
What happens if I email you?
I don't yet know.​
I'm comfortable with that. The middle. The unknown.
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I have not yet decided how we could collaborate or help one another because I haven't met you yet! Email me. I'll email you back. Let's see what happens then. This is a process of patience. I do have faith that when the time is right,
we will know.
It will be beautiful.​​​
My story isn't like yours
You cry out: "I don't agree!
You are not like me. My story is different."
Wonderful.
I'm so glad you are here.
Stay.
I need to hear your story too.​
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It is only in the diversity of voices that we get anywhere near truth.
An editor from Covenant Communications listened to my pitch and asked to see the full manuscript of Starling Warrior.
Personal revelation I got during a keynote at the Latter-day Saints in Publishing, Media, and the Arts Conference 2023.
I told a friend how beautiful her feelings and her struggle are. I needed to hear that too.