Memory Loss

8/29/2017

I Was Thinking…

Do you ever struggle with memory loss? I know I do. For example I attended the Atlanta Braves baseball game this past Friday night. I remembered how to travel to the new SunTrust Park. I remembered where to park and where our seats were located. In the midst of all this ‘remembering’ there was one thing I had forgotten.

My six-year-old grandson, Luke went with me to the game. It was one of the best nights at a Braves game in quite some time. The Braves won the game and there were a couple of exciting homeruns but that is not what made this night at SunTrust Park special. What made this particular night special was to see the game of baseball through the eyes of a six-year-old. You see I had forgotten what a baseball game looks like through the eyes of a little boy.

The hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn tasted better because of a six-year-old. The homeruns were more exciting because of the ‘high fives’ of a six-year-old. The tomahawk chop had more enthusiasm because of a six-year-old. Everything seemed brighter. Why…because of a six-year-old.

Do you ever struggle with memory loss? I know I do. I had forgotten that baseball is a kids’ game. In all the adult competitive spirit and city pride I had a severe case of memory loss. I forgot the purpose of a game intended for fun and healthy competition.

Baseball is not the only place I’ve experienced some memory loss. There are times when I have forgotten other important purposes as well. For example there have been times when I have gotten so caught up in the doing of church that I have forgotten the ‘why’ of church. After Peter’s proclamation of Jesus where he said “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”, Jesus proclaims “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Why is ‘church’ so important to Jesus?

It is important because despite all of its humanness and thus, imperfections, the church is how God has decided to win the world to love and peace. In the midst of all that the church needs to do to maintain itself I sometimes forget that the church is created to be the ‘heartbeat of God’. I have memory loss when it becomes my ‘heartbeat’…that’s when I have forgotten something very important.

Yes, it’s true, I struggle with memory loss. I am so thankful for a six-year-old grandson who reminds me why we have the game of baseball and fireworks and hot dogs and cotton candy and popcorn. I am also thankful for a patient God who tenderly helps me remember that the church is the bride of Christ with an important purpose…a purpose of love and peace. My sister and brother United Methodist…this is why we do what we do…I’ll try not to forget it.

Always Thinking…