We have a tendency to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. That's why we need altars. Altars are reminders of God's faithfulness. And faith for the future is really just a byproduct of remembering God's faithfulness in the past. Simply put: He did it before He'll do it again.
Jesus asked the disciples an interesting question in Matthew 16:9: "Don't you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of leftovers you filled?" Here's the great irony. The miracle had just happened. And they had already forgotten. The truth never got translated from short-term memory into long-term memory.
For what it's worth, C.S Lewis said, "We need to be reminded more than instructed." It's true. One of the primary responsibilities of leaders is helping people remember what they should not forget. It's telling stories of God's faithfulness over and over and over again.
It reminds me of the classic SNL skits when Chris Farley interviewed famous guests. Instead of asking questions he lead with "Remember when" and ended with "that was awesome." That's leadership!
Remember when...that was awesome.
Jesus asked the disciples an interesting question in Matthew 16:9: "Don't you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of leftovers you filled?" Here's the great irony. The miracle had just happened. And they had already forgotten. The truth never got translated from short-term memory into long-term memory.
For what it's worth, C.S Lewis said, "We need to be reminded more than instructed." It's true. One of the primary responsibilities of leaders is helping people remember what they should not forget. It's telling stories of God's faithfulness over and over and over again.
It reminds me of the classic SNL skits when Chris Farley interviewed famous guests. Instead of asking questions he lead with "Remember when" and ended with "that was awesome." That's leadership!
Remember when...that was awesome.
7 Comments:
This post is a great reminder in and of itself that we shouldn't forget. I don't understand why it is so easy to forget, but you are right on. We need some modern day altars in our lives to help us with this.
...that was awesome!
Jeff
Remember when...
God led the his children across the Jordan and commanded them to pick up stones from the middle of the river...?
He told them to build an alter of those stones... because he knows that we have VERY short memories.
I love that about our God! That was awesome!
PS This is why I always tell my husband to buy "small stones" to mark special occasions and miraculous events in our own lives. It's an altar I can wear!
great stuff here! thanks for the reminder...that was awesome!
Chris Farely, God, C.S. Lewis, leadership all mentioned in one blog ...that was awesome!
Mark,
That's one of my favorite quotes by Lewis. It's so simply yet so true. Jesus even says in John 14 that one of the Holy Spirit's responsibilities is to remind us. I don't need much instruction. I know too much & obey too little. I need to be reminded all the time though.
Matt
Wow...thanks for the great post. I'd love to hear suggestions on how we as leaders can help people remember (alters). Communion I know is one. What are some others that can be practiced regularly?
yes...and some of us forget more often than others and need to be reminded more often as well. That is why I have found journeling to be a great tool, I love to go back and remember when...now that is an awesome time!
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