Patterns of Memory

Two weeks ago, I spoke about the importance of creating tangible reminders of God’s presence in our lives, but the israelite example of gathering rocks and building an altar wherever they saw God move isn’t always practical. Beleive me, the Walmart employees will not approve of of you stacking up rocks in the check out line after someone pays for your groceries. So, how do we practically make reminders for ourselves?

Today I want to demonstrate what that can look like, in a practical sense. Below is my version of the israelite altar: my memory board.

While it may look like a junk drawer hanging on my wall, this board is equivalent to a roadmap of my life, the objects all representative of a part of me, a marvelous story, or a meaningful friendship. Not everything on this board has a spiritual meaning, but several objects do. Here is just a peak into some of the stories that are on this board:

• Dessert fork: this fork came from a revival I went to five years ago. The preacher told a story about visiting a fancy restaurant where he was given two forks with his meal. Unsure of why there was a second fork, he asked the waiter what he should do with it, and she told him to save it so he could eat dessert, the best part of any meal. This preacher compared waiting for dessert with waiting for heaven, reminding us that while we have very important work to do here on earth, we should keep a mindset of anticipation for heaven, as God is “saving the best for last”. This fork reminds me to think about the eternal significance of my every action.
• Receipt: while it may seem strange to have a receipt for a pie from Harris Teeter, it is symbolic of a God-inspired friendship with a woman who loves pies from Harris Teeter. I met this woman on a mission trip, and we have stayed in contact for the past five years, enriching each others’ lives spiritually, and sharing lots of laughs and special times. Our meeting was one that only God could have ordained, and so this receipt is a reminder that God can work in any situation to bring people together.
• Retreat scedule: Hidden behind many of the other items on my board is a daily schedule for a fall retreat that I went on with my youth group in 6th grade, shortly after I became a Christian. During this retreat I made a promise to God that I would change the world for him, even if it was only a small change. The schedule reminds me that that promise still stands today.
• Dreamcatchers: there are several dreamcatchers on the board, because I have found that the Lord often reveals things to me through dreams, and these dreamcatchers remind me to pay attention.

As you can see, I have created a practical version of the standard rock altar, collecting items that are representative of spiritual moments in life. However, while this works for me, not everyone wants to have a cluttered board of seemingly random items hanging on their wall. And that is totally OK. There are so many ways that we can remember the things God has done for us.

There is a woman I know who finds a pebble after every God encounter and collects them in a small box that she keeps on her desk.

If you are crafty, you might take pictures and create a scrapbook or a collage, or design scripture art that represents a period in your life when you experienced God working.

Perhaps journaling is your thing. I have never been able to get into journaling, but many friends of mine find it very helpful to write down ways God is working, so they can go back and read them later in life.

No matter what your course of action, mindfulness of God’s presence in every moment is our primary goal, and establishing a pattern of memory devices brings our focus back to Him.