It happened again on Sunday. Walking into church, I spotted someone I’ve know for some time. I’ve known their name for a couple years. But then and there, at that moment, I had no idea what that name might be. It’s up in my brain somewhere, but I just couldn’t retrieve it. What to do? Do I step into a conversation and just hope someone else mentions the name in passing? Do I veer away and involve myself with another group, hoping my “friend” didn’t notice me? Do I own up to my memory lapse? But it’s not like we just met!
Did this ever happen to you? How did you handle the situation? Probably better than I did.
Let’s face it, we’re imperfect humans. Our bodies are prone to all sorts of imperfections. If our knees hurt, we’re not embarrassed to say so. If our hearing is failing us, we accept the help of hearing aids (at least most of the time.) When our eyes weaken, we put on the glasses. Human bodies weaken and fail us in all sorts of ways. We know this and aren’t embarrassed to admit it. We may wish we were still the hale and hearty selves we once were, but we know we’re not.
Somehow when our very human brains fail us, we react so differently. We’re self-conscious and uncomfortable. What will others think of us, if we own up to this mental glitch? Will they be insulted? Will they think we’re “stupid?” Or will they just accept us as human? Probably the latter.
For us humans, dealing with our “humanness,” is an ongoing challenge. Aren’t you glad that God is not human? He doesn’t forget. His memory has no lapses. In Isaiah 43:1 we’re told, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are mine.” He remembers our name – all the time! He knows you by name when you pray to him. He knows you by name when you forget. And he will know you by your name on that final day when he welcomes you to that beautiful heavenly home.
I will forget; I might as well accept that. But there is no forgetfulness with our Savior and Lord. Thanks be to God for that!
Judy
Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida 