In every epoch and with all languages and by all means, men continue to narrate their stories, innumerable stories that have admirably staged the encounter between God's freedom and man's. Our humanity was built on stories that have given identities to peoples and nations, mythology on which different values and forms of life were built.
Inserted in these great narratives on which our humanity is based, our tiny personal story is added to many others and that contribute with their own originality and beauty to this grand weave or story that flows through time. It is not indifferent whether or not we join this great life project. As Pope Francis says, “Human beings are storytellers. From childhood we hunger for stories just as we hunger for food. Stories influence our lives, whether in the form of fairy tales, novels, films, songs, news, even if we do not always realize it. Often we decide what is right or wrong based on characters and stories we have made our own. Stories leave their mark on us; they shape our convictions and our behaviour. They can help us understand and communicate who we are.”
“We need to be 'clothed' with stories to protect our lives. We weave not only clothing, but also stories: indeed, the human capacity to 'weave' (Latin texere) gives us not only the word textile but also text.”
When the Pope uses “tapestry or fabric” as a metaphor for our life, he proposes a beautiful and complex image, inviting us to imagine something similar to an infinite tapestry that is fabricated over time, where colors, weaves and textures form thousands of combinations that intertwine and form a unique design: us, who we are.
The Pope invites us to read our life story “with the gaze of the great Storyteller - the only one who has the ultimate point of view - we can then approach the other characters, our brothers and sisters, who are with us as actors in today’s story.” He continues: “Even when we tell of evil, we can learn to leave room for redemption; in the midst of evil, we can also recognize the working of goodness and give it space.”
We are part of an infinite tapestry; we must not forget it. We have the possibility to tie infinite “knots”. To aspiring collaborators, Steve Jobs asked, “Do you want an ordinary life or do you want to change the world?” The answer to this question depends on the meaning and weight of the fabric of our life.
Don Bosco answered this question in his time. He was certainly an insignificant boy in the eyes of his contemporaries, his life was condemned to anonymity, without education and without resources. However, he wanted to change the world, he wanted to be different and "trade" his talents. Thus he transformed fate and for this reason we are here. The Spirit of God weaves the plot in our life with freedom and creativity, helping us to bring out who we are in the eyes of God.
God is our listener; sometimes we approach Him, in a shy voice we say: “Do you have some time for me? I have something important to tell you and only you can understand me.” It is a marvellous moment.
