02/12/2013

Good morning. I’m sure there’s a good scientific reason for those moments in the early morning or in the middle of the night when you wake up with a start and remember something you’ve forgotten to do – or that needs to be done later in the day. You lie restless thinking, now I mustn’t forget to do that – how will I remember? If it’s a frequent experience, there’s be a pen and paper beside your bed where you can write down the thing you need to remember and then you can go back to sleep again. Writing down seals the reminder – but if you lose the piece of paper … what then?

There was an extraordinarily moving programme about those who find themselves struggling to remember because of Alzheimer’s. They compared its symptoms - the progressive loss of memory - as being something like the gradual tearing of pages out of a photograph album beginning with the most recent. I used to talk for ages with one sufferer about past family life on the farm and delivering the milk on a horse and cart to people in the village, but that question kept coming over and over again, “Have I locked the car?” “Have I locked the car?” Re-membering had become dis-membering: recollection falling apart. Enormous reserves of patience and understanding are demanded of friends, family and carers. And they have to be very strong to support those becoming more and more dependent on them. Until all is dependence.

The thief crucified with Jesus asked, “Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” It’s almost as if he was asking to be put back together again – Jesus re-member me. Make this disjointed existence right again.

So a prayer

In all the experiences of life, deserved and undeserved,

and in the mystery of death,

O Lord Jesus,

may we have you at our side and may your promise sustain us through the darkest hour.

“Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Amen