Remembering and forgetting

Why do we remember what we do?

Why do I remember that Jeannette Turner’s birthday is April 8? We were in elementary school together. I cannot remember Jeannette Turner herself, yet I remember the date of her birthday. What is it about her birth date that I remember it and do not remember so many other things?

Remember the man who came to my yard sale and subsequently, so amazingly, greeted me at the airport in Istanbul when Heaven Admin and I got off the airplane? Apart from yard sales, I had no recollection of this friend. Recently he reminded me that about five years ago we had met and had a conversation and he had been to my house! Of this I had no recollection whatsover! Vaguely, the memory is coming back, yet why did I forget, and why did he remember?

Clearly, we cannot remember everything or our heads would be so overcrowded with the insignificant.

But why do we remember such little snippets of the past that seemingly have no bearing on our present lives? All the while, God tells us to get out of the past anyway.

And do you remember the dear lady I know who accidentally overdosed on an allergy prescription, was in a coma, and when she woke up, she had forgotten everything? She even had to learn Christmas all over again! But what she did remember beyond measure was her clear direct connection with God. She lost her memory but became a Knower of God.

What do you remember? And, if I may ask, what have you forgotten?

Posted by Gloria on April 9th, 2010 under these topics
Decluttering, Purely Personal, Godwriting Journal

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6 Replies

Reply from Jack van Raders on April 9, 2010

I remember the Beuaty of Gods SEA the power, the serenety,the intencety of drinking in sea’s Beauty,the closeness to GOD when alone on watch and the reflection of Gods stars. What have I forgotten, I do not know I forgot Love Jack

Reply from paula on April 10, 2010

I used to remember only the negative events of my life, but since I became aware of this fact, I’ve forgotten them. Recently, I’ve noticed that I don’t remember almost anything anymore, but I’m not worried, because I know it means I am starting to live in the Now. I am starting to remember how it is to Be in the River of Life.

Reply from Lynda on April 10, 2010

I love Paula’s response “I am starting to live in the now.”

I also remember when I used to be able to submit a comment without having to enter my information every time :0) ah, no longer…

I find more and more on a regular basis, I forget things that were said or happened, even hours earlier.
And that is interesting at times, and more often than not, I tell people exactly what Paula said. Or that I am living in the moment.
And I find that if the missing word, or sentence or even story is important for me to remember, I do, eventually. Something might trigger the memory of it.

I used to have a mind like a steel trap. Many things I remembered were negative, and I could recite them back to anyone who would listen.

But I also noticed that more I was dwelling on the negative, the more negatives I was attracting.

There are still experiences that happen that are not the most pleasant. But I have learned (and am still learning) that they are happening for a reason, and I try to view them from a different perspective.

I think in my case, Gloria, I quite often find that little snippets, as you call them, will pop up, and then suddenly it is like I am connecting the dots to another place or time, or person. Then for some reason, something that was said or an event is relevant to what is happening in the moment.

I understand what God means about getting the past out of the way. I grew up with many people in my life (in particular my mother), who’s daily mission it was to remind us all about the past. And that became her legacy.

My preference is to perhaps remember, at times, as a gentle reminder, or nudge that I really don’t want to go there again. Or, as you said, if we remembered everything our heads would be so overcrowded with the insignificant.
So, they are tucked away, somewhere perahps never to be remembered, or for those times when a nudge is needed.

And the rest, like Jack said, “What I have forgotten, I don’t know I forgot.” I love that.

Imagine, waking up one day and all you remember is your connection with God.

Reply from Pam (fortheloveofGodde) on April 10, 2010

Paula’s answer was perfect–living in the now means not remembering the negatives of the past. More and more, I remember the feelings or emotions of a memory more than the details of the memory. Mostly the happy or joyful. Seems the sad or bad stuff floats through and leaves very quickly.

Forget quite a lot of stuff, some just said in the last hour or two. Particularly if it’s told to me as I’m doing something else. There’s a part of me that simply answers and then forgets to let me know when I’m done concentrating. I’m a really bad secretary for myself.

Reply from Chuck Gebhardt on April 10, 2010

Here is a snppet from a recent Heavenletter (#3419, April 5, 2010. I think it is quite germaine to this discussion and was an eye-opener for me. It was addressing our remembering the past:

“What trouble was so precious that you would want it to tag along after you? You aren’t required to carry in the beauty of the past either, for there is plenty more beautifulness where that came from.”

Reply from paula on April 11, 2010

“Now that I live in this moment of being, my energy is strong. My zest for life is stronger. No longer do I have regret, and no longer have I fear. Regret and fear and such things cannot and do not exist in this moment of Eternity that I call now. Now I am free of regret, and I am free of fear. Regret is retrospect. Fear is of the future. Where can fear or regret exist in this moment that I live with God? I live now. Not a while ago and not later. I am alive now. I AM right now.”
GOD in HEAVEN #3425 In This Moment of Being, with perfect timing - as usual!!

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