This week something happened that once again highlighted my “forgetfulness”. The number of times I look for my car keys even though I am training myself to walk in the front door and put them in the same place as the last time or the many things I have put in that very safe place ….never to find again! I live in expectation every day of finding them and maybe even some cash I hid away for a rainy day. What about blanking out on people’s names or stumbling over our words in the middle of a conversation?
The quest for lost items could be turned into A Parable of Seeking and Finding – just as the shepherd searched diligently for his lost sheep, so too do we embark on quests to locate our misplaced belongings. From sunglasses to cell phones to important documents, the quest to locate these lost treasures can lead to comical adventures. Picture the frantic rummaging through drawers, the turning of the house upside down, only to discover the missing item was right in front of you the entire time. After all, who hasn’t found their sunglasses perched on top of their head or their phone in the fridge?
We all have moments of forgetfulness, some more than others. It’s a common human experience, and we must learn to laugh at ourselves and each other (lovingly, of course) when it happens. After all, laughter is good for the soul.
For me, the worst is forgetting people’s names. I try really hard to learn all our new parishioners names but sometimes I just struggle. How many times have you met someone at church, and two minutes later, you can’t remember their name? It’s almost like our brain processes the information, but then it suddenly vanishes into thin air. So, what do we do in this situation? We resort to the classic, “So good to see you again” or “Oh, how are you doing, dear?” Hoping someone will fill in the gap with their name. Am I right?
Another form of forgetfulness perhaps we all have experienced is forgetting what we were going to say in the middle of a sentence. It’s like our brain decides to take a break and leaves us hanging. Then comes the awkward pause as we try to remember our train of thought. And if you’re lucky, someone usually jumps in with, “What were you saying?” To which we reply, “Uh, I forgot.” Cue the laughter.
Forgetfulness is a part of life, and we should learn to embrace it with humour. I believe that God has a sense of humour and laughs with us in our forgetful moments. When our words fail us, our memory seems like a hazy fog or we stumble over our words, let us remember that God hears the intentions of our hearts. May we never forget the enduring love of God – His unwavering love is like a key that unlocks the doors to infinite possibilities in our lives and through Jesus, we have access to forgiveness, redemption and the beautiful journey of salvation.
While chuckling at these moments of forgetfulness, may we hold fast to the promise that the Holy Spirit will guide us through life’s ups and downs, turning missed appointments into divine opportunities. That no matter how forgetful we may be, God never loses sight of us.
His love is unchanging and unfailing. His watchful eye forever upon us, guarding us and illuminating our path. Trust Him as we read from Scripture the many passages that reveal the unfailing and steadfast love of God.
Psalm 136:26 “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Ephesians 3:17-19 – “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
May we always remember to find joy in every situation, even in moments of forgetfulness, knowing that God’s love is everlasting – it surpasses our understanding, reaches out to us in every situation, and remains faithful despite our shortcomings. It is in this love that we find comfort, hope and the assurance that God’s love will always be there to guide and sustain us.
I encourage us to share our funny forgetfulness stories with each other. Laughter is a great way to bond and build friendships. And who knows, maybe we can come up with some creative ways to combat forgetfulness together.
With love and laughter,
Michelle