Tuesday-Remembering

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Hebrews 13:3

Remembering is one of those funny things in life. Sometimes thoughts and memories just sort of pop into our heads. Like searching for pictures on Google, they instantly appear and then disappear just as fast.

Like right now, as I’m thinking about what to write next, my head is filled with memories. First, there’s the first time I ever saw Mary Ann. Now it’s my mom making homemade spaghetti from scratch. Then there’s my dad starting up his seven and a half Evinrude boat motor. And then there’s my brother bouncing his glasses up and down on his face.

We have lots and lots of memories to pull from. To bring back up and experience them again and again. Some memories fill us with joy. Some with great sadness. Others are just hitting the rewind button on our lives, replaying scene after scene of details that don’t mean a lot to us.

And then there’s the remembering that takes work. You know what I mean. It’s the kind where we have to focus on what we want to recall. There’s something that we need to commit to memory, so we repeat in our heads. Again and again we take the time and energy to purposefully think about something.

Think back to the early days of school. First there were letters. Then there were all those spelling words that needed to be learned so we could read. All those math tables that put us to sleep. A few years later, maybe you memorized the Gettysburg Address. Or part of a play.

While we probably don’t think this kind of remembering is a lot of fun, it’s exactly what the writer is telling the Hebrews to do. This isn’t a suggestion. It’s not an option. He’s commanding them to continually keep bringing up thoughts of their friends and family who are in prison. To keep thinking about the people they know who are suffering.

Just seeing these words can make us feel a little bit discouraged and depressed about remembering. We worked so hard to put all that stuff into our heads. And for what? To pass a test that week? And then move on to another bunch of stuff to be memorized the following week. And then the week after that.

But the writer is reminding the Hebrews and us that we need to be in the business of remembering certain things. Things and people that are important enough that we should keep thinking about them. They are worthy of not being forgotten.

We like to remember good things. Happy times. Birthdays and anniversaries. Remembering all the good times is easy. But they’re being commanded to remember people that are in prison. People that are being mistreated. Doesn’t sound like a festive time to me.

And that’s the point. There are things and people that will only bring pain and sorrow when they come to mind. But their importance is greater than the temporary sadness they will bring. They can be used for the glory of God and to bring many to himself.

I’ve written how I suddenly became paralyzed, and emergency surgery removed a seven-inch blood clot from my spine inside my neck. After the surgery, I could move again. But there was a lot of nerve damage that created lots of pain. It felt like someone was jabbing an ice pick between my shoulder blades.

Some people would try their best to forget the whole thing. But not me. From the very start, I wanted to remember it all. While lying in the hospital for 15 days, I went over each and every thing that happened. Every test. Every procedure. Physical therapy. Almost ripping out my stitches and scaring myself half to death.

It’s been many years, but even now I go through all the events of those days every so often. Memory by painful memory, I walk through the initial attack, being put into a corner of the ER because they had no idea what was wrong with me. Being wheeled into surgery and then waking up in Intensive Care.

This is what we’re to do for our brothers and sisters in Jesus. We’re never to be embarrassed by their unjust imprisonment. Their suffering shouldn’t push us away, we should be drawn to them. We’re to love and embrace them even more.

A dear woman who had a great impact on Mary Ann contracted cancer. Despite all the best doctors and treatments, it spread. While all this was going on, I met her on the steps in front of the church. As she reached out to hug me, I just reached towards her and held her tight.

Then it happened. I felt all these lumps. I am sorry to say that I let go of her and pulled away. Our eyes connected and she explained that her cancer was spreading and that there was nothing that anyone could do. She reassured me that I was safe, there was no way I could be infected by them. We are to remember that Jesus took on all our sins and shame. On the cross, Jesus personally experienced separation from God. Remembering all that he has done for us, we are to respond in loving obedience to God our Father. This is what we’re to remember each and every day.

Noodling Questions

• How do you remember things? What games do you play to remember?

• What are three things that you wish you could remember more easily? Why?

• When’s your best time to think back on the day? Explain.