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The Story That Must Be Told: True Tales of Transformation

Edited by Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman
Loving Healing Press (2007)
ISBN 9781932690385
Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for RebeccasReads (4/08)

Try to imagine a round table with 19 chairs circling it. In these chairs sits a colorful menagerie of people from various faith traditions, with assorted backgrounds, having distinctive problem-solving tactics. Now picture yourself listening to each person tell their story of grief, fear, woe or worry, one after the other, and how they coped with these grievous circumstances. You will begin to notice a common theme: trouble comes in many shapes and sizes, and people struggle, more or less successfully, to become the champion over their problems. This is the value of the small paperback “The Story That Must Be Told: True Tales of Transformation,” edited by Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman.

In this short piece Watson and Volkman have pulled together 21 short stories written by the 19 people who lived them. Each narrative will strike the reader in different ways, because the authors approach their target from diverse angles. Some writers address their unique problem from the angle of faith, shamanism, yoga, or other religious experiences, while others through revelatory moments in counseling, a stroke, or a happenstance meeting with a car salesman. A few of the accounts deal with death, grief and disability. Several expound the tale of their previous addictions. Certain writers rehearse their involvement in crime and the socially/emotionally disintegrating consequences. But the theme is the same: people have troubles, whether self-inflicted, other-caused, or disease-based, and they have dealt with those troubles, more or less effectively.

Besides the occasional editorial oversight, “The Story That Must Be Told: True Tales of Transformation” is nicely put together, with the stories grouped under 10 headings. There are some real jewels in these personal recountings, and the reader will find herself surrounded by real-life people, living through real-life situations and succeeding. I would imagine that counselors, pastors, prison chaplains and others in the helping professions would be able to use some of these stories to great advantage with those who come to them for help.

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