Every so often I hearken back to my early childhood memories. Today’s trip back in time took me to my first “memory work.” I attended a Lutheran grade school, and even in first grade we were assigned a daily Bible verse (or other important piece of spiritual truth) to memorize. The first entry in our memory book was 1 John 4:16b, “God is love.” My reaction on completing this assignment? “Hey, this memorizing thing is easy!” In later years, when we committed entire sections of Luther’s Small Catetchism to memory, the task grew in difficulty and importance.
The years have passed and remembering has become a precious-and-sometime-illusive task. Bible passage memories dance around in my head at almost every moment of the day, especially the quiet/alone times when my self-talk roams widely. Those remembered Scriptures still function as a dependable source for the values and priorities—the wisdom—that I try to live out each day.
The vagaries of older adult memory notwithstanding, this collection of available Scriptures serves me well. Not so much for proof texting about doctrine, but more about the simplest of life’s questions: “Now what?” A good share of my Bible-recalling occurs almost willy-nilly, popping into my head like an evening rain shower, and then sticking around like a spiritual brain worm. A remembered Scripture verse/story/parable sometimes arises to the surface of my thinking when I’m trying to maintain a positive spirit or make an important decision. At other times, a memorized biblical section invites me out to play—as in “I wonder where that idea could lead?”
I cherish these moments, not only for the gift of God’s truth but also as a reminder of all the years that these Bible verses have followed me through life. A satisfying accompaniment that I hope continues…!
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