What is the purpose of remembering?
It is to give you a chance to relive and rehearse what you’ve been through without necessarily having to live through it again.
One of the obstacles we have to overcome when engaging in a time of remembering is dealing with emotions that haven’t been addressed or have gone unresolved. These memories are important even when we do not necessarily have a clear path forward.
The goal of remembering should be to enter into a deeper analysis of the events and to discern, as best we can, the lessons we can take away from them.
We should not be surprised when we find ourselves stuck on a memory unable to move forward. This is actually quite common. It’s at times like these when we should seek the counsel of a trusted friend or mentor. Sometimes in conversation the combined wisdom of your lives can bring about some new insights that may have gone unnoticed before. This may not be the best approach for everyone.
The goal of remembering should be to enter into a deeper analysis of the events and to discern, as best we can, the lessons we can take away from them.
Tweet
Sometimes writing down our memories and reflections can be helpful. Other times using our imagination to put ourselves into that situation may be the way to go. Regardless of the method we use, the goal should be to look at the event and the choices that we made, and possibly the mistakes that were made in order to gain a better understanding of how we can grow and move forward.
As we continue our journey towards Easter, it is good to take a moment to reflect and remember on those things that could keep us from embracing the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This time of reflection is key in helping us to consider where we are on our journey of faith.
As we look back and even consider where we might go in the days, months, and years to come, remembering when we are not in the immediate emotional state of that event gives us an opportunity to think and look at what happened with a little more clarity.
This is not an easy task for many. But in spite of the challenges, it is well worth the effort. When we remember and reflect and consider where we have been and where we would like to go we grow as individuals and as members of the faith communities to which we belong.
We should not underestimate the power of our own spiritual maturity and development. It may be something other people do not consider to be of value. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to a continual journey of development. This journey can sometimes lead us to places and conclusions we did not anticipate or expect. But regardless of where we end up we can put our trust in Christ to lead us from there to the place he said he was preparing for us.
To walk by faith can sometimes feel like an overwhelming challenge. But that challenge should not cause us to despair or lose hope. We should continue to turn our attention towards Christ, allowing him to continue his work in us as he conforms us into his image and cultivates in us those disciplines that will yield a harvest within our lives.
