Memory

Remembering anything is never as easy as it seems.  When I was young I often took it for granted.  Minutes details, nuances, and even small expressions from those within listening range were all part of my memories.  Odd bits of trivia, relevant details, and obscure facts blended together to form wonderful textures in my mind.  Today the world is a very different place.  There are so many details flooding the senses from every possible direction that I find myself unable to cope with the overflow.  Filters kick in and details are never seen to start with.  Buffers are overwhelmed so only the perceived important things of the moment find their way to my accessible library banks.  Even when I know it is important, I often forget to actually think about remembering.  The net result is that I know I know but I have no idea where I stashed the memory.
I find that I am not alone.  The problem is not simply an age related observation.  Young and old, brilliant and slow, seem to find themselves struggling to remember.  No aspect of life is immune from the process.  Critical business items, important relationship notes, and even life shaping events find themselves mixed with the avalanche of bits bombarding our senses.  It is hard to hold onto the very perspective that we know within our hearts is critically important.
God knows our weakness.  The simple reminder is not one of frustration or anger; it is simply a statement of reality.  “Remember and keep the revelation I gave through my servant Moses, the revelation I commanded at Horeb for all Israel, all the rules and procedures for right living.”  (Malachi 4.4)
God offers us a two-fold solution.  First, we have a Spirit to guide, instruct, and remind.  Second, there are life lessons used by God to catch our attention, remind us of grace, and nurture our souls.  The solution comes with the dawn and lasts on through the dark night of our souls.  The key, always, lies in our openness to hear, accept, and embrace.  Remembering opens doors.