Saturday, October 22, 2022

Remember

The Rev. Rob Stevens

The following quote is from Frederick Buechner a theologian and writer that has given me many moments of grace. His reflections on Remembering resonate with me as I remember all of you. Re-membering is so much more than an intellectual exercise…Re-membering puts us back together when we fall apart. Most of my prayer-life is remembering. To paraphrase Fredrick, to remember is to be human!

“When you remember me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart. For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost. When I'm feeling most ghost-like, it's your remembering me that helps remind me that I actually exist. When I'm feeling sad, it's my consolation. When I'm feeling happy, it's part of why I feel that way.If you forget me, one of the ways I remember who I am will be gone. If you forget me, part of who I am will be gone."Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom," the good thief said from his cross (Luke 23:42). There are perhaps no more human words in all of Scripture, no prayer we can pray so well.”

Frederick Buechner
~ originally published in Whistling in the Dark and Listening to Your Life