A fresh look at scripture. The Native American perspective.

Currently I am reading a book by Randy Woodley, titled “Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview.” The author is a native American theologian who unlocks a fascinating way looking at scripture through the lens of native American culture.
He finds, that “The Bible was not written from a Western worldview, it was written as story. In fact, 90% of Scripture is story. If you do not understand how to interpret story, you really do not understand the Scriptures.” (Not read – Randy Woodley)
Humans have used stories since the dawn of time to transmit wisdom, identity, and purpose. Stories are the means for unlocking our deepest sense of self. Native Americans transmit spiritual knowledge to this day by means of stories. Therefore, Randy Woodley reads scripture, not as a scientific textbook, but as stories with the purpose of revealing knowledge about the nature of God and the human condition.
I could not help thinking that healthcare professionals –and I am including myself in this group – are easily tempted to see patients not as “stories” but as “scientific textbooks.” On the other side patients in their suffering can quickly forget that the nurse, the food services employee, the custodian, or any other healthcare professional are more than a service provider but a “story” of their own. Today, I invite all of us to seek the “story” in the other. Be curious what you might discover about yourself when finding identity, meaning, purpose and the sense of belonging in the other.