As you navigate the “land of forgetfulness”, whether personally or alongside a loved one in that realm, consider these initial reflections. Embrace the faint scent of nostalgia lingering in the air, the gentle hum of contemplation filling the space, and the soft touch of understanding that envelops you in this journey.
The Psalmist wrote:
“Are Your wonders known in the darkness,
or Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?”
Psalm 88:12ESV
This is a good place to start–with questions of God–we need to ask Him and His Word. There are encouraging words to be found. It is my prayer that God will guide me in using these pages to explore His answers for all of us.
I have been serving as a chaplain for several years at a memory care facility. Each week I do a worship service and serve the Lord’s Table or Communion to the residents who come. I don’t do this as a “sacrament” but just as a “remembrance.” The “breaking of bread” or communion is the one place where Jesus said, “remember Me”, no other place does Jesus ask for this:
And He took the bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19ESV
I do this each week with these deeply forgetful people because of Jesus’ words. It is just as He requested, “Do this in remembrance of Me”.
One of my friends there, Sandra (not real name), was raised in the church—loves Jesus and has always looked forward each week to remember Jesus’ work for us on the cross through communion.
In recent days, Sandra’s disease has progressed to where when someone brings her bread, she asks, “What is this?” I tell her this is the bread of Communion, the Lord’s table–“we are remembering what Jesus has done for us on the cross.” Then she asks, “Who’s Jesus?” but still takes the bread.
This child of God–who most of her life has loved Jesus deeply and served Him–now asks, “Who’s Jesus?” Sandra, and many like her, is “living in the land of forgetfulness”.
So we can ask with the Psalmist:
“Are Your wonders know in the darkness?
Or your righteousness in
the land of forgetfulness?”
(Psalm 88:12ESV)
I believe God has answers for us in His Word and it is my goal, in these pages, to discern them. Our “state of mind does not change his promise to us. He will always be with us.” Let me take this difficult journey in the “land of forgetfulness” with you.
Pray
Lord, You are the One who said, “Let there be light” and there was light.
You are the One who created man from the dust of the earth (You created).
You are the One who breathed into man (that’s us, me) the breath of life.
Only You have the answers to these questions and more. Help me find them and share them with others. Help me bring Your remembrance to those living in the “land of forgetfulness.” To help all, both the “Deeply Forgetful” and those caring for them. Only You, Lord, can show the way through this “land”–for it is clear to You!
Amen!