Thoughts on Memories and Reminiscing

A memory is an incredible thing. As we look back at the things we’ve experienced, the people we’ve met, and the time we’ve spent with friends, they can leave us in awe. When these things play back in our mind they can fill us up – they can give us joy. They remind us that we never could have anticipated or planned all of this: our friends, our co-workers, our teammates, our roommates, our classmates. The trips, the adventures, the pain, the brokenness, the joy, the healing, the late nights, the love. They remind us how human we are; how fortunate we are.

When things are going well, these people, these experiences, these memories; they act as a magnifying glass. Proclaiming and echoing the truth that life is beautiful, precious, and something to be cherished. When things aren’t going well they act as a distant lighthouse, guiding us and reminding us where the shore is.

But all of these things – these things that create memories, these things that we later remember – they do not come to us at our desk. They do not find us on our couch, and they do not leave a message in our inbox. No, we have to find them. We have to search for them. We have to chase after them.

Now sometimes they does find us, but always on their own time. Never ours.

And yes, they do come and go, but like an old friend, I always enjoy reminiscing and hope we never stop running into each other.