Making History Worth Remembering Or Repeating
Yesterday, Poco and I sat at the table, discusiing her upcoming AP History class. I recognized her angst, since once upon a time, I taught college prep English to high school students in Colorado. So, I remembered some entered eager to show off their smarts. Others were fearful, wondering if they were smart enough.
Well, I felt the weight of her class, when Poco handed me her heavy textbook on U.S. History, along with the assignment, due day one. Still, homework seemed premature, like Fall’s Chrysanthemums and decorations showing up in mid-August, next to beachchairs already on sale.
So why write with wrinkled brow? Well, often it feels like our fast-paced culture rewards overachieving, rushing, overscheduling and racing to be first in line for the best seats or sales. Seasons get squeezed more than savored. We fret and rush through our days, hardly aware that everyday we’re making history, writ small or large. It reminds me of Emily’s musing in Our Town, ” Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it…?”
Do we? Probably most of us, dubbed senior citizens, appreciate each day more than when we were younger. But, back to Poco and our conversation about history. It seemed to help when I suggested we look at history like a story, instead of a class to be graded. Poco and I love stories. If you worry about memorizing a bunch of dates and battles, history class can be a story killer. So we talked about big pictures, contexts.
And we talked about why history matters. So I shared some personal history. Today I thought about the history lessons in the Bible. And how often God’s children are told to remember and to tell the stories to their children.(Joshua 4:6-7) Why? So they’ll remember God’s miracles, but also so they, and we, don’t repeat history that harms or destroys us, others, or God’s creation.
And so, maybe on this last day of August, it’s more apt than we may realize to think about history. Why? Because theirs, yours, and my history matters. While, we’re no longer graded, what we forget or remember can lead to failure. Sometimes, epic failure for us, a marriage, church, corporation or a country.
But memory can be selective and consequential. In the wilderness, wandering between Egypt and the promised land, the Israelites , fed up with manna, remembered “the fish, melons, cucumbers leeks and garlic they used to have in Egypt.” (Numbers 11:5) And they remembered to grumble, but forgot to be grateful for God’s miraculous deliverence from Egypt where they were slaves. Albeit, well-fed slaves.
So, what we forget matters, as well. Psalm 78:11 reminds us, “They forgot what (God) had done, and the great wonders he had shown them.”(NLT) So when it comes to remembering, sometimes it helps to be selective. Like choosing to remember, “God’s faithfulness continues through all generations…” (Psalm 119:90 NIV) And God knows us. He made us. “He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14,NIV) Beloved dust.
So, as Poco prepares for her history class, we have today to make some edits or additions to our story. Most will forget dates and battles, but will remember the forgiveness, mercy, love and grace we extend. You know, offer others the emotional and spiritual food, we crave for ourselves.
Well, looks like it’s back to school for me.
Thank God, it’s open enrollment.
So, there’s still time to make some history worth remembering or repeating.
Care to join me?
Hopeful,
Jan