(Thoughts) On memories...

(Thoughts) On memories...



Hi there,


Yeah today i thought i'll just talk about something that been constantly on my mind for the past few weeks. When people talk about memories, what is it that comes to your mind? Most people will highlight and remember the most vivid and impactful of memories that if generally classified, can be into 2 categories: (1) The fond ones, (2) The unpleasant ones.

Of course this does not exclude the other kinds of memories that may be in your mind, things that you sought so hard to remember, like your new house number, back in the age where there were no handphones and you had to key in the entire length of numbers onto the keypad before you can connect with another. Others that aren't so vivid could be the “usual” stuff that happens in your life, the teddy bear that you said goodbye to before your bedtime, your hot cup of coffee that your mom prepared for you in the morning, or the bus driver who gave you the nod and smile when you bored the bus to school. Oh yes, and those were random just examples, NOT of my life.

But one thing I would like to bring up and suggest, that if you think about the memories that are so vivid to you, they do share a common factor of being naturally developed. That being said I mean that on most occasions when a fond memory occur, it is not as if you had particularly set aside a certain memory and desire in your heart, “Oh yes that should be one that is fond.” and hence it becomes fond. It is fond for various reasons, our preferences(naturally, and developed in our growing years), our state of mind and comfort level at that point in time, and others.

Just to make clearer, for example if you did like butterflies before visiting a park, and one day as you rest on a bench at a park in the midst of watching the waters trickle down a nearby fountain in the sun, and a nicely striped butterfly flutters by, it is a fond memory that is implanted in your mind. You need not tell yourself repeatedly, “oh yes I am told that butterflies are beautiful and hence when one flutters by in the right circumstances, I am to think it good.”

Conversely, another example could be that if you had never liked bees, and we have the same setting as above, that beautiful warm sunshine upon that bench you are sitting on, admiring the fountain int he middle of the park, AND a bee flies by, turns back and darts straight at you. The whole image is still one that is unpleasant or negative to your mind, despite the beautiful setting, and you need not tell yourself that it is unpleasant, because it becomes naturally so.

So what am I driving at? Just a simple point really, that the most pleasant and most unpleasant of memories do not happen by choice(unless in specific circumstances of which people try hard to manipulate their way of thinking, and tweak the way they view their memories in manners that alter perceptions of truth), it comes about quite naturally and smoothly without our need for intervention.

That being said does not mean that one must always view life in a negative sense, when one goes through the downs of life, or strictly positive when one goes through the ups of life. For I do believe that the dwelling upon the different thoughts of the mind and emotions of the heart is that more of by choice. Here I would like to refer to the letter of Philippians that Paul wrote, from Philippians 4:8.

“8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8

As it is seen Paul urges the people of Philippi to choose to dwell upon the thoughts that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.

So the question now lies here. What in the world can be classified into such a category? I would like to suggest 1 thing, the word of God as revealed in the Bible.

“18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 11:18-19

“5 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”
Proverbs 30:5

“28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.”
Psalms 119:28

“105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalms 119:105

“ 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Psalms 119:11

“4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.”
Psalms 33:4

“12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”
Job23:12

“6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.”
Psalms 12:6

And all in all once we learn to begin treasuring the word of God, with the right attitude of the heart, we begin to learn to change as He teaches us through renewing our minds, through the conviction upon our spirits by the Holy Spirit. But on our part we have to make that effort in treasuring what He has given us in his revelation in the Bible.

And what is all this leading up to? I would say 2 things, and in fact its the same things that I told others on the day of my 21st birthday when I was asked what i wished for. No I did not wish for world peace(I'm not a Mr Universe or something.) I wished that the people whom I know will begin to love, first by knowing how God loves us, and then from that very love, learn to love others. For that is the only true love that we can ever learn from, ever look up completely to. And I prayed and still pray in my heart, despite my current state of weariness, that I will be able to love those in which the LORD brings into my life, loving without favouratism, to love as how he will desire me to love, to be able to give forth these people that warmth and that hope of which today's world and society is so greatly devoid of.

So in effect I'm talking about the beginning of the journey of (1)knowing and revering this God of the Jews and of Christians. This God who was, who is and is to come. This God whose sovereignty is above all, who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, whose thoughts are above our thoughts, and ways above our ways. This Father God who provides for our every need, this Son Jesus Christ who redeemed us from eternal death and purified us, that we may dwell in his presence, this Holy Spirit who indwells within us to guide us into paths of truth and righteousness amidst all the confusion that lies in this world. The beginning of the journey of (2) learning to obey the command of love, to love God and to love those whom God has placed in your life.

Additional Bible References:
“12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12

“5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.”
1 John 2:5-7

“36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."”
Matthew 22:36-40

“ 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22

“10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
1 John 4:10

“12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:12


Yeah I think I have said enough for a night. Good night and may all you fellow brothers and sisters continue in your journey of learning what the love of God truly means in your life, and just living out the truth as He shows you. May we continue to encourage each other in our every segment of our lives – and to look out for those who have been left alone and afflicted. May the peace of God be with you all both now and always. Amen.



In His love,
Jon