I forget more than I used to. I do not think the problem is a bad as I think it is. I find that life is more complex, chaotic, and confusing than at any point I can remember. I find that there is a growing gap between actions and aspirations, desires and reality, to-do lists and recall.
In context, I know I know more than I can recall. Did I take the action or simply wished I did at the time? Was it real or simply something I hope would be? What was on my mind when I headed out to the shopping center? Did I have something on my mental list that is now buried?
I find that I like lists. They work.
After reading an email, I file it with an intuitive filename that will remain self-revealing.
I take work notes in a diary format. I find that by doing this when I go back and read them in the context of a day, my scribbles remind me of the story I participated in.
I also ask others. Hearing their stories is helpful. They often saw things that I did not. They also remember nuances that I have forgotten.
The process of forgetting extends beyond day-to-day work events. Life’s chaos clouds one’s ability to see. The obvious is often hidden. The simple appears complex. Small problems grow into ones that are insurmountable.
So I go looking for reminders. Pictures reveal more details than I can remember. Listening to a story takes me back to the moment with the confidence that I will make it though. Words reveal the profound.
One writer wrote, “I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name.” (1 John 2.12)
I forget that I am not alone in the hell of my creation. Someone cared enough to offer me hope. I have a way forward. I can act to repair the damage I caused. I can be part of the solution. I can be a force for good. Anything is possible; God is on my side.
