Memories…

Yesterday we drove back from Yorkshire. The wedding’s over; back to normal. But we come back with wonderful memories – of the wedding itself, of time spent with family, of recalling other family weddings and past events…

Family and friends have memories of Hester and Chris over many years that make Friday’s wedding even more special… Hester and Chris will be sorting through wedding photographs to give them a memory record for many years to come.  

This morning at Men’s Shed I shall be with a group of gents who each have a life time of memories of successful careers, exotic holidays, long marriages, loved children and grandchildren… but also of messy divorces, the death of loved ones, life-limiting illnesses… memories of the good, the bad and the ugly.

In ‘Cats’ Elaine Page sung ‘Memory’:

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
Life was beautiful then
I remember
The time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again.

Happy, beautiful days in the past contrast with a sad and lonely present. Some friends are in that place.

The song turns things around. Whatever the past memories, or present feelings, today is a new day:

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn’t give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new life will begin

Facing up to, coming to terms with, and making sense of my memories can teach me so much. Warnings, lessons, encouragements, signposts… about life, friends, God and me… But, as the saying goes, ‘Today is the first day of the rest of my life’.

…Musing on St Paul’s words:‘I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.’ I’m seeking to balance past memories, present reality and future hope.

I pray that Chris and Hester will learn that balance too.