Memory

This is Neil. I am now fully aware of this blog and I approve the following message:

So a while back Courtney and I realized that we kind of have a little more extra time on our hands than we are used to, but we didn't feel like we were using it in the best way. At the same time, I was struggling with a fear of a lack of boldness and a dryness when it came to trying to read Scripture. I felt like I knew what to expect and it wasn't satisfying my "knowledge fix". I didn't know whether I should just force myself to read or take a new approach. As a couple, we decided to do "lexio-s" (not a dorky cereal) to help us be reenergized by the word. In doing that, I decided I was going to try something I had virtually abandoned since my feared Bible Bowl days - memorizing Scripture. I don't know quite why I always pushed this discipline aside in days past, but I thought it would be a good thing to try.

Then I got to thinking about my job. As some may know, I work in a Brain Injury program, trying to help people get to their most independent level. Some people have a really bad struggle with their short-term memory. Sometimes forgetting what they ate for breakfast, sometimes forgetting where they were ten minutes ago. Yet, all of these people have a strong sense of who they are and the things that are really important to them in life. Some things even a brain injury can't take away.

So, as much as I love reading Scripture, I want to do whatever I can to burn it onto that part of me that doesn't go away with a car wreck or a stroke or a seizure. I have loved just sitting in the car and then started to hear the cadence of James 1 start in my head ("Consider it pure joy, my brothers..."). Hopefully this will not be one of those things that sounds cool and you really start out strong and then fades out after a month. My goal now is to brain-injury-proof the Words of Life in my head.

Peace,