I suffer from the problem of forgetting. Perhaps you struggle with it, too?
When I take a class, I fill my notebook with lecture notes. I underline and annotate the textbook. I write outlines and essays to help me to process the information.
When I craft the new stuff into my own words, it helps save the knowledge into my brain cells. But (ugh) so laborious! Yet when I short-cut the process (yes, I have tried), my problem of forgetting re-enters and my grade suffers.
Remember, Remember
Much like a class, I have learned that each day carries lessons to be internalized. Our lack of interest and review, however, discards vast amounts of wisdom. Without intentional efforts to remember … all is lost!
We are quite the forgetful people. As we proceed to our next day of life, we tend to forget the joys and the struggles of the previous day. Sadly, lessons to be learned remain on the table of the day’s classroom. If only we would spend time processing the day, we could overcome the problem of forgetting.
Many centuries ago, Socrates stated “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Yet, our busyness with life supercedes even the tiniest bit of personal reflection day after day after day. If, however, we hope to address the problem of forgetting, we do need to better process our life lessons. Otherwise, we have to keep repeating the class!
God’s Call to Remember
Repeatedly God tells His people to “Remember me” (Deuteronomy 8:2-5, Psalm 105:5, Ecclesiastes 12:1). At first glance this seems like an unneeded statement. He is pretty serious about it , though!
God urges his people to create physical reminders: altars (Joshua 4:1-24), celebration feasts (Exodus 12:14-20), mezuzahs (a small box containing Scripture verses and attached to the home’s door frame), rainbows (Genesis 9:14-16), even physical ailment (Jacob’s limp Genesis 32:22-32).
So…why do I think that a quick overview of the day in my closing bedtime prayer is sufficient to process the day’s lessons? My failure to take time to review the day has created massive amounts of lost lessons. I imagine the Lord just shaking His head, saying, “Well… we’ll have to teach that one again. They did not get it and we don’t grade on a curve.”
Your Turn
Problem with forgetting? Get a notebook. Find the time. Process the day to learn the lessons!
Posted by Sharon R Hoover
Elephant photo credit: digitalART2 via photopin cc
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Photo credit: Ludovic Hirlimann via photopin cc
