The Lovely Joanne happened to see a fascinating segment of the CBS magazine show "60 Minutes" this week. This was about people who remember everything that has ever happened to them, from an early age. They can remember and re-live every instance from any day in their lives, even 20 or 30 years ago, with perfect clarity. (You can find the full story here.)
Even without that perfect memory, I have some good memories of the past, and some very bad ones. I'd like to remember the good ones better, and forget the bad ones forever. But memory can be a useful tool as well as an irritant. Memory can help us avoid repeating the same dumb stunts over and over, and hopefully remember dates that are important to our loved ones. (Note to self, remember more birthdays!)
Another thought about memory: God has decided to forget all our sins. In Isaiah 43:25, looking forward to forgiving all humans because of his Son Jesus, he says "I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again." That's a wonderful promise! And it's straight from God's own grace, not from our good works or deserving it. I'm very thankful God has forgotten my sins -- I'd certainly like it if nobody on earth remembered any of them either!
Louise Owen, one of the people interviewed for the "60 Minutes" story, said about her gift of perfect memory, "it makes me live my life with so much more intention and so much more joy...Because I know that I'm gonna remember whatever happens today, it's like, all right, what can I do to make today significant?" That comment made me stop and ask myself the same question. How can I make today meaningful? What can I do to plant a good memory in someone else's day, or bring joy to someone? Paul tells us to live the "new life" in Eph. 4:23-24: "Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." Being "more intentional" as Louise said, paying more attention to the new life we've been given, will help us leave those good memories for someone else. And maybe even for ourselves.
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