“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.”
― L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl
“You can have many experiences without gaining any experience.”
― R.L.Greenhow, personal communication
“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.”
― Lois Lowry, The Giver
“Humans, not places, make memories.”
― Ama Ata Aidoo
I’m not sure that I agree with Ms Aidoo because many of my most precious memories are associated with places rather than with people. I have no problem being alone with myself in a wild place, surrounded by nature, and enjoying it. Some of my most powerful memories come from such situations. On the other hand, all of my close friendships have been build on memories of shared experiences. It’s hard to imagine any real relationship in which shared memories are not an important part.
But I do agree with Ms Lowry, that memories need to be shared. I’d like to start a blog series based on memories with Mohembo, a person I first got to know not far from a place of the same name, in remote north western Botswana. We have been in close touch since then and shared many experiences. More importantly we have talked over and reflected on these experiences with the hope of gaining experience that we can apply in our daily life. The series will more or less form itself, take up subjects or events as I remember Mohembo describing them.
Hopefully the subjects and thoughts will trigger a response in readers – reactions to the reflections, sharing of similar memories and experiences, or just encouragement, a realisation that many of us face the same challenges, carry similar burdens, have similar hopes and fears. Mohembo may share how he tried to deal with painful and destructive memories, and how he found relief. He may even share his experience with the “gift of forgetfulness” which surprised him to the degree that he never forgot about it.
Those who profess to be followers of Christ know that memory is profoundly important for our faith. Even in Old Testament times individual and national faith was linked to remembering what God had done, and what he had commanded. It was when the nation forgot what God had done and what he expected of them in the way of behaviour that things when wrong for them.
"Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you."
― Deuteronomy 32:7
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (Yes, I believe this is the only one of the 10 commandments in which we are specifically told to remember...)
― Exodus 20:8
"You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God." (Provision is made to give us physical aids to remind us to remeber!)
― Numbers 15:39-40
And it was Christ himself, when instituting what we call “the Lord’s supper,” “the mass,” “the Lord’s table,” “communion,” or whatever, who told us to repeat the celebration “in remembrance of me, till I come.”
Experiences without reflection don’t lead to learning. Memories reflected upon, on the other hand, can deepen relationships, provide direct learning that is further built upon by other people’s insights when shared. The wrong kind of reflection or analysis can lead to a modification of memory. I recall a detail of a memory that Mohembo related that was completely wrong, probably introduced by some other imagined event or impression.
How much time do you give to reflecting upon and sharing the memories that have meant most to you? What memories do you have that you could share that you think could encourage someone else, or that you simply wish you could hear an echo of from someone else? Memories that are confusing, memories that are difficult and painful – that need healing or forgetting? Memories that leave bitterness that need to be transformed by God into life-giving lessons? Have you had “memories” which you later found out were incorrect but which have influenced your attitudes and relationships? In short, what part do memories play in making you who you are, and how do relate to them?
― L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl
“You can have many experiences without gaining any experience.”
― R.L.Greenhow, personal communication
“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.”
― Lois Lowry, The Giver
“Humans, not places, make memories.”
― Ama Ata Aidoo
I’m not sure that I agree with Ms Aidoo because many of my most precious memories are associated with places rather than with people. I have no problem being alone with myself in a wild place, surrounded by nature, and enjoying it. Some of my most powerful memories come from such situations. On the other hand, all of my close friendships have been build on memories of shared experiences. It’s hard to imagine any real relationship in which shared memories are not an important part.
But I do agree with Ms Lowry, that memories need to be shared. I’d like to start a blog series based on memories with Mohembo, a person I first got to know not far from a place of the same name, in remote north western Botswana. We have been in close touch since then and shared many experiences. More importantly we have talked over and reflected on these experiences with the hope of gaining experience that we can apply in our daily life. The series will more or less form itself, take up subjects or events as I remember Mohembo describing them.
Hopefully the subjects and thoughts will trigger a response in readers – reactions to the reflections, sharing of similar memories and experiences, or just encouragement, a realisation that many of us face the same challenges, carry similar burdens, have similar hopes and fears. Mohembo may share how he tried to deal with painful and destructive memories, and how he found relief. He may even share his experience with the “gift of forgetfulness” which surprised him to the degree that he never forgot about it.
Those who profess to be followers of Christ know that memory is profoundly important for our faith. Even in Old Testament times individual and national faith was linked to remembering what God had done, and what he had commanded. It was when the nation forgot what God had done and what he expected of them in the way of behaviour that things when wrong for them.
"Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you."
― Deuteronomy 32:7
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (Yes, I believe this is the only one of the 10 commandments in which we are specifically told to remember...)
― Exodus 20:8
"You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God." (Provision is made to give us physical aids to remind us to remeber!)
― Numbers 15:39-40
And it was Christ himself, when instituting what we call “the Lord’s supper,” “the mass,” “the Lord’s table,” “communion,” or whatever, who told us to repeat the celebration “in remembrance of me, till I come.”
Experiences without reflection don’t lead to learning. Memories reflected upon, on the other hand, can deepen relationships, provide direct learning that is further built upon by other people’s insights when shared. The wrong kind of reflection or analysis can lead to a modification of memory. I recall a detail of a memory that Mohembo related that was completely wrong, probably introduced by some other imagined event or impression.
How much time do you give to reflecting upon and sharing the memories that have meant most to you? What memories do you have that you could share that you think could encourage someone else, or that you simply wish you could hear an echo of from someone else? Memories that are confusing, memories that are difficult and painful – that need healing or forgetting? Memories that leave bitterness that need to be transformed by God into life-giving lessons? Have you had “memories” which you later found out were incorrect but which have influenced your attitudes and relationships? In short, what part do memories play in making you who you are, and how do relate to them?
