A couple of weeks ago we had a sudden outbreak of sunshine and heat after Spring’s playing hide and seek with us. One afternoon I raked the lawns and pruned some bushes. Through trial and error and actual directions from a nursery I figured out that these bushes would bloom beautifully if I pruned the branches at the first bud where the branch showed life. 

We like to tell and hear stories from family and friends, even when we’ve heard them before because they help centre us on who we are and where we’ve come from. We learn our values from stories that reveal character or flaws – my family have a long list of stories that reveal my many flaws. We like stories because they connect us to inside jokes and shared losses that help us face the next challenges that come along. 

Just the weather gave me highs and lows last week. Spring was hiding but the occasional warmth of the sun lifted my spirits. Our federal budget, depending on your perspective, was a high, a low, a worry, or completely frustrating. People are hurting with financial uncertainty and some banks are rattling the economic weather. Meanwhile the 1% are making money hand over fist.  

Scripture

The Holy Spirit confirms this: This new plan I’m making with them isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; This time “I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts.” He concludes, I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.  (Hebrews 10:15-17 MSG)

Memories Feed Our Joy

Susan and I still celebrate this day – our first date in 1965. Most of you weren’t even a twinkle in your parents’ eyes when we two nervous teenagers had dinner and went to a concert. It is one of many memories along the way that we still treasure, some with laughter and some with tears.

Memory is a funny thing. We each remember in different ways and from different perspectives, but shared memory creates a richness among us as spouses, families, friends and colleagues. Our shared memories often still shape our present – for good or ill.

In my recent conversation with Stacey Campbell, you will remember she suggests that “forgetting” is a form of forgiveness when it comes to things that are damaging in our memory. Even in loving relationships, the ability to forget old hurtful forgiven experiences liberates us to love and mutually serve as we move through life’s transitions.

The God who comes to us in Jesus in this pre-Easter season invites us to be clearly aware of that which we need to change but once forgiven to forget it and not let it accuse us in future days. We can’t forgive ourselves, but we can forget our failures in Jesus’ forgiveness and move forward in freedom to love and serve God and those sent our way.

A Prayer for Today

All knowing and loving God, you know our earthiness and our failure, but you created us for more and in Jesus given us a way forward to unburden old stuff and move into Your light and kindness. Since You know how to forget in the process of forgiveness help us do the same …. For Jesus’ sake