Sermon Library
“Remembering”
Rev. Dr. Gregg R. Anderson
September 12, 2010
Service Theme: Pentecost XVI-2010
Source: Psalm 77: 11 – 15
Pentecost XVI-2010 September 12, 2010
Remembering
Psalm 77: 11 – 15
Memory is a tricky thing, especially as we get older. There is a story about three elderly women talking. The first said, “Sometimes I go to the refrigerator and forget what I need by the time I get there.” The second woman said, “When I go upstairs, I can’t remember whether I am going up for something or I am on my way back down.”
The third woman said, “I have a hard time finding my car in the parking lot, but lately I just look for the car with the lights left on.” The fourth woman said, “I’m lucky, I guess. I don’t have those problems yet, knock on wood. Oh, there’s someone at the door.”
Remembering Important Things
Being memory challenged seems to be a pretty common quality. We all can have problems remembering where we laid our glasses, car keys or even car. But those are the little things. What we generally do not forget are the big things. We may forget someone’s name, but we do not forget the event associated with an important person in our lives. We do remember significant events whether they were momentary or over a period of time. We do remember important passages of life. We remember trips that we have taken. Sometime we take trips just to make memories of our trip. We actually spend a lot of day to day time remembering. We remember good feelings and sometimes bad feelings. We can carry guilt for a long time. We remember birthdays and anniversaries, holidays and holy days.
We keep mementos and photographs around the house because they generate good memories of people or events. We know we are supposed to live in the moment, but we are constantly conditioned to remember our past. This past week I happen to take time to attach a plug to the wire of an old, old clock that used to sit in the corner cabinet at my parents lake home in northern Minnesota. It was an antique when my parents had it. I plugged it in and was pleasantly surprised to see the second hand immediately began to move. I moved the other hands around to set the clock and soon I could hear the familiar chimes that I have not heard for many, many years. Immediately, my mind went back to good memories at the lake and specifically sleeping on the sofa in front of the fireplace during the colder nights in the fall and listening to the chimes that even helped me fall asleep.
Now that I mention the chimes it dawns on me that music itself often elicits memories. Music often has a its own message of a particular time or event. And music often makes us remember a certain time in our own lives. We listen to music in the present, but it encourages our mind to be in many different places and feelings.
We remember 9 – 11, September 11, 2001, mostly because we our purposed to make sure we do not repeat 9-11. Those who perpetrated 9-11 will not be influenced, but the billions of other people, will be more motivated to act responsibly toward the efforts or peace and perseverance. 9-11 is a great tragedy and we can only hope that there will be more people who will be committed to prevent such a tragedy than those who will create such a tragedy. Religion is about Remembering
Religion and Remembering
There are so many things that surround us which activates our memory. One of the qualities of life which continually reminds us to look back is our faith and religion.
The Jewish congregation just remembered Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year and beginning of a time of penance concluding with atonement and Yom Kippur next week. We remember Christmas and Easter and remember what they mean. In fact religion has a great deal to with remembering. Even the word religion means to return to or bind back. The word remember is used extensively within our scriptures.
Remembering in the Scripures
In Exodus we read about the instruction of God to Moses to always remember the Passover to also remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. In the book of Numbers we read, remember the commands of the Lord that you may obey them. In Deuteronomy we read, remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years and remember that you were once slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. In Ecclesiastes we read, remember your creator in the days of your youth. In the gospel of John we read, remember the words I spoke to you; no servant is greater than his master and remember the words of the Lord Jesus how he said that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. In the letter to the Corinthians, we read, remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
We could go on and on. In fact the origin of the scriptures was completely based on remembering in that these significant stories were handed down in oral tradition. Remembrance was the vehicle of religion. And still today, remembering is part of our faith. Christianity is based on remembering the life of Jesus to the point of making the life of Christ literally present with us today. Jesus turned the ancient traction of remembering the Passover to remembering him. “Do this in remembrance of me.” The Roman Catholic Church considers this act of communion and remembrance as the most central act of worship and their faith. And it is all about remembering.
It Matters What We Remember
Rev. Dr. James Gilchrist from Westminster Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania stated in a sermon on remembering that “It matters what we remember because memories shape our lives. The person we become is shaped by what we remember.” We need to be selective in what we chose to remember and how we chose to remember.
Sharing Cookies
One afternoon a shopper at the mall felt the need for a coffee break. She bought herself a small bag of cookies and put them in her shopping bag. She then got in likne for coffee, found a place to sit at one of the crowded tables and then taking the lid off her coffee and talking out a magazine she began to sip her coffee and read. Across the table from her a man sat reading a newspaper. After a minute or two she reached out and took a cookie. AS she did, the man seated across the table reached out and took one too. This put her off, but she did not say anything. A few moments later she took another cookie. Once again the man did so too. Now she was getting a bit upset, but still she did not say anything. This happened again and there was only one left. Before she could say anything he took the last cookie, broke it in half, offered half to her, and proceeded to eat the other half himself. Then he smiled at her and putting the paper under his arm, rose and walked off. She was steamed. Her coffee break ruined, already thinking ahead of how she would tell this offense to her family, she folded her magazine, opened her shopping bag and there discovered her own unopened bag of cookies. I think there is a message in there not only about remembering, but also about communion.
Beatitudes for Grandparents
In this chapel we are surrounded with the artistic depiction of the Beatitudes. There are here to remind us of the message of the Beatitudes. In keeping with this and Grandparents day today, let me simply conclude with something that Ellen Roeser sent me via email. It was in a different context, but I think it is appropriate to read thinking of grandparents and the beatitudes. “Blessed are they who understand my faltering step and shaking hand. Blessed are they who know my ears today must strain to catch the things they say. Blessed are they who seem to know that my eyes are dim and my wits are slow. Blessed are they who looked away when I spilled my coffee at table today. Blessed are they who with a cheery smile take the time to chat awhile. Blessed are they who know the ways to bring back memories of yesterdays. Blessed are they who make it known I am loved, respected and not alone.” Amen.
Gregg Anderson
Aspen Chapel
0077 Meadowood Drive
Aspen, Colorado 81611
http://www.aspenchapel.org