Day thirty five - Memories

I thought I would write something about an experience I had a few weeks ago that is still active in my mind. One of the effects of the pain making me tired has been brain fog. I have forgotten names, words when I'm talking, and even found myself lost at roundabouts when driving. It is nothing to do with age; it is all to do with brain fog.

But what was interesting a few weeks ago was something of that experience that people say you get when you are drowning, or dying in general. Your life flashing before your eyes. I didn't actually have that. It would be uncharacteristic for me to move that quickly. But some memories did come back and I realised that when I wrote the book of my life (that was its working title when I was writing) I got some details wrong, because I had forgotten them. The other week I relived the experiences and remembered the details. I even remembered a person from when I was 15 years old who was very significant, but who I forgot all about. The name came back and other details. I'm not drowning, or dying in general (no more than you are!) but it was interesting to see it all stroll before my eyes.

A member of one of my churches said to me a couple of months ago that my life must be interesting with the thousands of people I must have met in all my moves. She has lived in the same village all her life (she's a year younger than me) and hasn't known that many people.

And with that experience of a few weeks ago, I have been thinking about all the people I have met, all the people I have preached to (at?), all the people I have counselled, and how I cannot remember most of them. I suppose it would take someone with great memory skills to remember that many people. In the summer I sat and counted up all the different churches I have preached in and that number was higher than I expected: 91.

I wonder, if I survive another year, will I remember this experience when it comes to Christmas 2026. We shall see (maybe).