Memory?

There are things I forget no matter how hard I try to remember! There are things I can’t help remembering even though I want to forget!

Memory is a hard thing to understand. While not always easy to deal with, memories are important in shaping who we are and how we relate to others. A couple of recent movies took an interesting look at memory.

50 First Dates
In 50 First Dates, Lucy just can’t remember who Henry is, even though they’ve been seeing each other for months! She has a “rare brain disorder” in which her short-term memory is lost every night while she sleeps. Every day Henry has to hope he can get her attention, strike up a conversation, and see if she will fall in love with him again, or not!
Eventually they come up with a way for Lucy to start each day by re-remembering what’s been going on, who Henry actually is, and that she is in love with him. It only becomes possible for their relationship to develop when they make a conscious effort to remember what has gone before.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Joel and Clementine have a slightly different problem. Clementine has grown tired of their relationship and decides to have all her memories of Joel erased (This procedure is offered by Lacuna Inc—just play along, OK!).
The next day when Joel finds her, she has no idea who he is. He can’t even get her attention. Joel then thinks the only thing he can do to fix the situation is to have his own memory of Clementine erased. Things don’t go quite according to plan with the procedure.
As Joel sees his memories being erased, he remembers why he loves her. But the procedure can’t be stopped. He has to find a place in his mind to keep his memory of Clementine safe. It all gets a bit surreal as Joel rushes Clementine from one memory to the next! When he wakes up the next morning the faintest trace of memory is enough for him to find her again.

Both movies explore how what we remember defines us, and our relationships. Our memories about a person and the things we’ve shared and done together are what we “have in common” with them. It’s when we forget these things we become distant and disconnected.
Sometimes—when things with our friends and family don’t feel like they’re going that great— remembering something from when it has been good can be enough to get us through the rough patch.
This is true for our relationship with God as well. When I’m not where I should be with God it’s because I’ve let my memory slip. It’s almost like I have a “rare brain disorder.” God is a bit like Joel in 50 First Dates. He remembers his promises to us forever (Psalm 111:5). I’m a bit like Lucy so I need to “re-remember” it all every single day.
History shows us that God loves humans and He wants people to remember Him and what He’s done for us, and others. Moses, David and many Old Testament prophets urged the people to remember all the amazing things God had done before, so they can trust Him in their current situation. Jesus wants His disciples to remember Him, especially every time they eat a slice of bread (Luke 22:19).
In Eternal Sunshine and 50 First Dates it’s the smallest hint of even a subconscious memory that brings Joel and Clementine, and Henry and Lucy back from separation.
What we remember is important.