Story Secrets - The Lion, the Bridge and the Wardrobe
What happens when the Room of Tears hides more than just vestments—and opens into a world of snow, silence, and saints?
In this magical and deeply symbolic short story, “The Lion, the Bridge, and the Wardrobe,” I reimagine the first moments of Pope Leo XIV after his election. Inspired by C.S. Lewis, the papal name "Leo," and a mysterious door in the Vatican, this tale takes the new pope on a Narnian-style journey through a desolate Rome where bridges have vanished and only a lion remains.
Guided by the lion's wisdom, the pope must rebuild a bridge—not just across the Tiber, but between people, generations, and hopes long lost. With the help of living saints and ancient grace, the bridge becomes more than stone—it becomes a path to renewal.
It’s a story of courage, calling, and what it means to carry the weight of hope.
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17:32
Story Secrets - A Tale Of Soot And Spirit
What if the black and white smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel weren’t just symbols… but sentient?
In this short story, I reimagine the smoke of the papal conclave as two ancient beings—mystical smoke-spirits locked in a sacred duel inside the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Inspired by the spiritual weight of the moment, and a dash of Lost-style mystery, I wrote "A Tale of Soot and Spirit: A Short Story About Two Colors, One Choice."
As black smoke wrestles with fear, habit, and power, and white smoke embodies trust, hope, and surrender, each round of their battle mirrors the secret ballots cast below. It's a meditation on the tension between tradition and transformation, and the mysterious grace that can come when we stop fighting.
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8:34
Story Secrets - The Chick on the Chimney
While the world watched for smoke above the Sistine Chapel, I was home with a fever and a head full of stories.
In this episode, I share how illness kept me grounded—but not my imagination. Inspired by the live Vatican stream and a particularly clumsy seagull chick on the roof, I wrote a whimsical short story: "The Chick on the Chimney – A Short Story About Feathers in the Vatican."
You’ll hear about a brave little gull named Pico, his parents Bianca and Bruno, and how a poop on the Pope’s chimney may have brought joy to millions. It’s a tale of fluff, flight, and fame—told high above St. Peter’s Square.
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7:17
Story Secrets - Walking With Dragons
Ever wonder what happens when you follow a calling you barely understand, armed with nothing but faith, ink, and a slightly trembling hand?
In this episode, I tell a story I made up on the spot—no script, no notes, just imagination and a whisper of a world I’m slowly discovering. It’s called “Walking With Dragons,” and it follows a young novice story mage on his very first mission. Sent into the unknown by nothing more than a vague prayer and a quiet sense of direction, he arrives in a village convinced it’s under attack.
But not everything that shakes the ground is out to get you...You can read the refined and improved version of the story on my Substack: https://fatherroderick.substack.com/p/walking-with-dragons
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33:24
Story Secrets - After The White Smoke
The conclave begins tomorrow.
In just a few days, a name will echo from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The white smoke will rise. The world will hold its breath.
And we’ll meet a new pope.
But what if—just for a moment—you let your imagination run a little further? What if the name announced wasn’t one you expected? What if the figure that stepped onto that balcony wasn’t what anyone saw coming?
That’s the story I ended up telling on a walk this week. I didn’t plan it. I just hit record. And somehow, out came a short story about tradition, surprise, and what it might mean when the Holy Spirit truly does something unexpected.
This is the first in a new personal challenge I’ve set for myself: one short story every day. Some will be light. Others more reflective. But all of them, I hope, will spark a bit of wonder.
You can listen to this one—the story of After the White Smoke—in this episode.
And if you enjoy it, let me know. I’d love to hear what you imagine when the smoke finally rises.
Sverige