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Jan 30 2025
The Ceiling Fan Principle (And How it Can Help You Understand the Bible) by Steven James

When I was growing up, whenever we returned to school in the fall, my teachers would give us the assignment to “write about what you did over the summer.”

The entries always ended up being lists of events: “I played video games, and then we visited my grandma, and then I went to camp and went swimming and did archery and then…”

You probably had the same assignment. 

Not exactly Pulitzer Prize-winning stuff.

Well, these days, since I’m an author and storyteller, I’m often asked to speak at schools. A number of years ago I was visiting an elementary school while doing a residency on writing. I arrived the day after spring break and told the students, “Please, please, please, do not tell me what you did over vacation. But can anyone tell me about something that went wrong?”

A fourth-grade boy raised his hand. “My cousin came over to my house, and we were having a contest to see who could jump the farthest off my bunk bed.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“He went first and got pretty far, and I said, ‘I can get farther than that!’” This boy was a natural storyteller, and by then, everyone in the class was leaning forward, waiting to hear how things played out.

“And what went wrong?” I said.

“I backed up to the wall to get a running start… and I jumped off the bed… and the ceiling fan was on. I got my head stuck in the ceiling fan, and it threw me against the wall—but I got farther!”

The class cracked up.

Now, if I would have said to those students, “Tell me about what you did over spring break,” that boy would’ve replied, “I played with my cousin.” But when I asked him to tell me what went wrong, he told me a story.

I call this the Ceiling Fan Principle. It’s easy to remember, and it’s a great place to begin a discussion on story and storytelling. 

Here it is: You do not have a story until something goes wrong.

 

What is a Story?

At its core, when you strip everything away, what is a story? Do all stories, regardless of genre, share some characteristics? 

Yes: a character in tension, caught between his present condition and his unmet desire for things to be different.  A story is not simply a progression of events; it is a collision of desires. So, a better question to ask than, “What does this character do?” is “What does this character want?” And, rather than asking, “What happens?” ask, “What goes wrong?” Then you’ll be on your way closer to the heart of the story. 

Stories are transformations unveiled—either the transformation of a character, a relationship, or a situation or, perhaps, all three. 

Without a crisis, a struggle, a discovery, a transformation in the life of the main character or a revelation of what she is really like, it’s likely not a story. It’s a report.

______________

Characters making choices to resolve tension—that’s your plot. If your protagonist has no goal, makes no choices, or has no struggle to overcome, you have no plot.

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Understanding story in this way has revolutionized the way I read the Bible. Now, instead of looking at the story as a series of events, I look for the pursuit: What do the characters want? What is keeping them from getting it? How do they respond? What is their driving desire throughout the story? What is the discovery they make at the end?

I don’t look for the lesson as much as I look for the struggle, for what doesn’t fit, for what goes wrong, for the things that truly set the story into motion. This approach has really changed the way I understand the story God is telling the world.

Take for instance, the story about Jesus at the temple when he was twelve. When I looked for the struggle, I found a deeper truth than when I simply looked at the events that were occurring. 

 

Was Jesus lost?

The story in Luke 2:39-52 seems pretty straightforward. 

You probably know the story: Every year Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Passover festival in Jerusalem. Then, the year Jesus turned twelve, they accidentally left him behind when they started on their trip back home to Nazareth. At first they thought maybe Jesus was with some of their friends or relatives in the caravan, but when he didn’t show up, they got worried and began to look for him. 

Still unsuccessful, they returned to Jerusalem and spent several days in a frantic search until at last they found him conversing with the religious scholars at the temple. Mary was exasperated. “Son!” she cried. “Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere” (Luke 2:48). But Jesus replied, “Why did you need to search? You should have known that I would be in my Father’s house” (Luke 2:49).

Luke closes the story by noting that neither Mary nor Joseph had any idea what Jesus was talking about, but that Jesus returned with them and was obedient to them, and his mother “stored all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51).

Let’s take a closer look at the story. 

Almost always, the person who struggles with something and then discovers something is the main character of a story. I used to think this story was primarily about Jesus, but then I noticed that he doesn’t really struggle with anything. He always knows what he’s doing, where he is, and why he’s there. That leaves his mom and his foster dad, Joseph, as possible main characters. And since Joseph has no lines in this story, I believe this is mainly a story about Mary. Already that’s different than what I learned in Sunday School.

Many of the best stories have both an external struggle (a problem that needs to be solved) and an internal struggle (a question that needs to be answered). You see it in movies and novels all the time: As the FBI agent diffuses the bomb he realizes how fragile life is and decides to reconcile with his dying father who he hasn’t spoken with since his divorce ten years earlier. Or, as Brenda finally lands the job she’s been trying desperately to get, suddenly it dawns on her that she really is in love with Edwin who is about to move to Wichita because he thinks she’s actually in love with Brent, the vacuum cleaner salesman…. You get the idea. External and internal struggles play off each other to add tension and depth to stories. 

This story is no different. Mary’s external struggle is pretty clear—she can’t find her son. But what about an internal struggle? Is there a question she needs answered? 

I think there is. And I think she reveals it in the words she says to Jesus: “Son! Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere!” (Luke 2:48). She meant, of course, that she and Joseph had been searching for Jesus. But in truth Jesus’s real Father hadn’t been looking for him at all. Mary should have remembered her encounter with the angel and the miraculous, Spirit-induced conception of her boy. According to the Gospel writers, God himself, in a mystical and mysterious way, was Jesus’s Father. So, when Mary said, “Your father and I have been looking all over for you!” she showed her inner struggle—she’d started to think of Joseph as her son’s dad. She’d forgotten who Jesus really was and why he’d come to earth in the first place. 

And by his reply, Jesus put a magnifying glass up to her struggle. “Why did you need to search? You should have known that I would be in my Father’s house” (Luke 2:49). He could have said, “You should have known that I’d be in the temple” or “back here in Jerusalem” or “learning about God” or something like that. But he didn’t. He said, “in my Father’s house.” And I don’t believe it was a coincidence. Jesus always chose his words carefully. 

Mary forgot. 

He was so normal, so human, so much like everyone else, that I think she forgot about his divine lineage and his ultimate purpose in life. She forgot he was God. If she had remembered his true identity she would have known immediately where to look for him and, mostly likely, she would not have referred to Joseph as Jesus’s dad.

(By the way, where is Joseph through all this? Well, quiet. In the background. Just taking it all in. I think he was a man of few words. As my pastor pointed out to me one time, “None of his words are recorded in the Bible. Anywhere. Typical guy.”)

So now, does Mary’s life change as a result of this encounter? I’d say so. She pondered the events in her heart, and through the rest of the Bible we never hear her referring to Joseph as Jesus’s father again. Ever. 

Struggle. Discovery. Change.

The more I explored this story, the more I realized it really isn’t about Jesus being lost—he wasn’t lost at all. It’s a story about Mary being lost. He stayed behind in Jerusalem on purpose because his mom had gotten used to having him around. The mystery of his true identity had faded with the years as his baby teeth fell out and his voice began to change and his acne started flaring up. Just like any other boy. He was just so human she forgot who he really was.

So he stayed behind to remind her. 

 

Tension is Key

At the heart of story is tension, and at the heart of tension is unmet desire. So, at its core, every story is about a character who wants something but cannot get it. As soon as he gets it (or fails ultimately in his quest to do so), the story is over. Because of this, if we don’t know what the character wants, they won’t know what the story is about.

Understanding the pursuit driven by unmet desire is the key to unlocking a story. Where does this quest take your characters (emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally, or relationally)? That’s what matters.

A story is more than events; it is pursuit. 

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Taking it deeper

Here are five sets of questions to lead you further into the heart of a Bible story. Remember the acronym C.A.R.D.S.:

Context: How do things make sense in a way that I hadn’t (or the story characters or audience hadn’t) expected? How does this story or event fit into the broader sweep of God’s story? Are there other scriptural verses or stories that will help inform my understanding of this one or shed new light on it?

Awareness: What surprises me? What have I never noticed before? What questions do I have?

Reflection: What don’t I know yet that would be helpful to know? Are there cultural or social aspects to the story that would help inform me on what’s happening or why it’s playing out as it is? How will I discover those?

Discovery: What do the characters discover? What meaningful choices do they make? What insights do they walk away with? What’s different at the end of the story for (or within) the characters?

Struggles: Who struggles? Remember: Every character enters every scene hoping for something. What do they hope for? What do they desire but aren’t able to achieve, avoid, or attain? What’s getting in the way? How does that result in tension or frustration?

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If you’re studying a Bible story, take a moment. Step back and ask yourself how the Ceiling Fan Principle is playing out in this case, and how you might be able to better identify with the characters in the story so that God can speak to you through the Greatest Story of All.

—Steven James is an award-winning storyteller. His most recent book is a collection of prayers entitled A Heart Exposed. Order your copy today.

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3 Things You Should Never Tell People
May 2 2023
3 Things You Should Never Tell People

In our daily interactions with people, we often share personal information or make statements that we may regret later. Whether in the office place, with friends, or even your relatives, certain things should never be shared or spoken aloud. Unfortunately, many of us are unaware of the consequences of sharing these types of information.

1. Don’t Tell People your Plans, They will Sabotage you.

You should never tell people your next move, work in silence and shock them with your results. It is natural to seek validation and support from our loved ones when it comes to our aspirations. However, this does not always result in positive outcomes. People’s fear, insecurities, and jealousy can lead them to undermine your progress. They may unknowingly or knowingly discourage you, plant seeds of doubt, or even intentionally sabotage your efforts. It can be a challenging and frustrating experience, and it can lead to feelings of betrayal and resentment.

 

2. Don’t tell people your Weakness, They will use them Against you.

In the world of business, every professional strives for success and recognition. The desire to be seen as competent, capable, and valuable often drives us to showcase our strengths and achievements. However, there is a common saying that goes, “Don’t tell people your weakness, they will use them against you.” It is a crucial lesson to keep in mind, as revealing your weaknesses can have significant repercussions in the professional arena. People always look for opportunities to never let the other person go higher than themselves.

 

3. Don’t Tell People your Failures, They will always see you as a Failure and Never give you an Opportunity

 

The fear of failure has become so prevalent in today’s world that we often feel we need to project a perfect image. We believe that disclosing our failures will make us vulnerable, and others will judge us accordingly. However, this mindset can be detrimental to our personal and professional growth. The truth is, failure is an inevitable part of life, and it’s how we respond to it that defines us. It can either hold us back or propel us forward.

Written by Zeeva Crawford

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Jan 7 2023
What Every Good Story Needs?

A good story has the power to pull us in, to make us think, to make us feel. It’s a way to communicate that has stood the test of time. Every good story has something that binds us to it, something that moves us and makes us reflect on life. What is it that every good story needs? To answer this question, we have to consider the elements that make up the stories that have been told since the dawn of time. 

 

To begin with, there are certain elements that every good story needs in order to be effective. These elements include an engaging plot, compelling characters, and a recognizable structure. Without these elements, the story runs the risk of being dull and uninspiring. Furthermore, a good story needs to have an emotional resonance. This can come in the form of humour, sadness, or even shock. It is the emotional connection that binds us to a story and allows it to stand out from the rest.

1. A Strong Protagonist

Every good story needs a strong protagonist to keep the readers engaged and to drive the plot forward. The protagonist should be an interesting and complex character who is faced with challenges and obstacles. They should have a clear set of goals they are trying to achieve and an understandable motivation for pursuing them. It is important that the protagonist has both strengths and weaknesses, and that they are faced with difficult decisions that test the limits of their character. A strong protagonist will make readers care about the story, so be sure to create a character that readers can relate to and invest in.

2. An Interesting Plot

Every good story needs an interesting plot to keep readers engaged. This plot should have several components, including an inciting incident that kicks off the story, a conflict, and a resolution. The inciting incident should be something that sets off the main characters on their adventure, while the conflict should be a struggle they face throughout the story. Finally, the resolution should be the climax of the story and the moment when readers find out how everything ends. Incorporating these three components into a story will help keep readers interested and eager to find out what happens next.

3. Conflict and Tension

Conflict and tension are essential elements of a strong story. Conflict is defined as the opposition between characters, or between a character and a larger force. It can be internal, with a character struggling against his or her own emotions or beliefs, or external, when they are up against a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Conflict is the key driver of the plot, and it helps to create tension, which is the feeling of uneasiness that keeps readers turning the pages. Without conflict and tension, stories become dull and uninteresting, so it’s important to maintain both of these elements throughout the story.

4. A Climactic Moment

Every good story needs a climactic moment – the moment when the tension reaches its peak and the protagonist must make a difficult decision or take a brave action. This moment should be the culmination of all the events that have taken place thus far, and it should be full of suspense and excitement. It should be a moment that the reader will remember long after they put down the book. The climax should be the result of the protagonist’s choices, but it should also have some element of surprise. The resolution should come soon after the climax, but it should be the result of the protagonist’s actions and should close the story in a satisfying way.

5. A Satisfying Resolution

A satisfying resolution is one of the most important components of any good story. It must be done in a way that feels logical and meaningful to the reader, while also giving a feeling of closure. The resolution should answer any questions that may have been established throughout the story, and it should resolve the theme, plot, and characters. It should also be satisfying for the reader, leaving them with a feeling of satisfaction or closure. This can be accomplished with a moral, a twist, or a happy ending. The resolution should be satisfying, unexpected, and memorable.

6. Meaningful Character Development

A story may contain interesting characters, but if their journey does not present any meaningful development, then the story will lose its impact. Character development refers to the growth or change of a character throughout the story. This can be internal or external, and it can be meaningful or subtle. It is important for characters to evolve in a way that is appropriate to the story, and that readers can relate to. Each character should be portrayed as real people with their own motivations, flaws, and strengths. The character development should be an integral part of the story, and its purpose should be clear. The characters should reveal important messages and themes of the story.

7. Interesting Settings

Every good story needs an interesting setting. Whether it’s a post-apocalyptic wilderness, a crime-ridden city, or a magical kingdom, the setting is a crucial part of the story. It provides the backdrop for the characters’ actions and emotions, and can even be symbolic if done correctly. A few interesting settings you can use for your story include a mysterious jungle, a haunted house, a space station, a forgotten castle, a far-off planet, a dystopian metropolis, and a post-apocalyptic world. No matter which setting you choose, make sure it’s engaging and vivid, so readers can truly be immersed in the story.

8. Captivating Dialogue

A key ingredient of any great story is captivating dialogue. Dialogue brings characters to life and allows the reader to experience a story on an emotional level. Engaging dialogue should move the plot along while also expressing characters’ thoughts and feelings. It should be unique to each character and contain both straightforward and subtextual elements. To make dialogue even more convincing, pay attention to the details like pacing, speech patterns, and tone. When done correctly, dialogue can take a story from good to great.

 

In conclusion, a good story needs to have a strong beginning and end, with a clear and engaging plot in between. It should also have characters that are believable and relatable, while also being able to evoke an emotional response in readers. By understanding the key elements of a story, writers can create memorable and compelling stories that will keep readers hooked.

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