Have you ever experienced a “here after” moment? For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, it is when you walk into a room only to stop and have that blank expression on your face because you could not remember what you are here after! (Ahhh…now you understand!)
Difficulty remembering things is a part of all of our lives but was especially a part of our experience during these past months of pandemic. What some of us called “COVID fog” was a source of frustration and concern but hopefully improves as our lives become fuller and more engaging once more.
But what about when we can’t remember? For those of us who have journeyed with family members with Alzheimers, Parkinsons, or other health conditions accompanied by dementia, you know how hard this is. As a pastor, I have found myself saying to caregivers on more than one occasion, “She may no longer know who you are but you know who she is and, more importantly, God knows who she is.”
The God who forgets also remembers. The things that often cause us regret, sorrow, and guilt, God can forget (And Jesus showed the depth of his love and forgiveness on the cross so that we can repent and let go too) and the things that often cause us worry, anxiety, and frustration, God can remember so that, in his good time, can give us what we need for healing and hope.
Jesus’ last words in Matthew 28:20 are, “Remember, I am with you always.” We may not always sense his presence and our memory may fade, but God’s love, grace, and forgiveness doesn’t leave us, whether we remember it or not. That is the gift of word and sacrament, prayer and song, and loving community. Those are the gifts that we will treasure all the more as our church and community continues to open up for a blessed life together. They all serve as powerful reminders of Christ’s loving presence and promises. And that is what God is after. Thanks be to God!