Lest We Forget

The story is told about a couple in their nineties who are both having problems remembering things. In response to their problems they decide to go to the doctor for a checkup. After their appointments, they sit in the doctor’s office to hear of the news. The doctor proceeds to tell them that they’re physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember things they don’t want to forget.

Later that night while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair and starts making his way to the kitchen. Immediately, his wife asks, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to the kitchen” the old man replies.

Upon hearing this, his wife makes a request - “Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?”

“Sure dear”, he says.

“Don’t you think you should write it down so you can remember it?” she asks.

“No, I can remember it.”

The old woman adds - “Well, I’d like some strawberries on top, too. You’d better write it down because you know you’ll forget it.”

“Got it!”, he replies, “I can remember that! You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.”

“I’d also like whipped cream. I’m certain you’ll forget that, so you’d better write it down!” she retorts.

Irritated, he says, “Look dear…I don’t need to write it down, I can remember it! Leave me alone! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!” Then he grumbles as he makes his way into the kitchen.

After about 20 minutes the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs!

His wife stares at the plate for a moment and then asks “Where’s my toast?

We forget a lot of things. For some, it seems that the older we get the more we forget. That’s not the most tragic part of the problem. The worst part of forgetting is that when we forget what’s important, we then in turn fail to pass it on to the next generation. Thus, each successive generation gets further away from it’s beginnings and is in danger of losing it’s way. We are losing our way.

Canada’s coat of arms, adopted in 1921, stands upon the Latin phrase “A Mari Usque Ad Mare,” which when translated means “from sea to sea”. This is also reflected in Canada’s official motto which comes from Psalm 72:8, “He shall have dominion from sea to sea” in reference to God. We’ve forgotten this.

Before the fall of 1983, July 1 used to be called “Dominion Day” which was (once again) a reference to and recognition of the sovereignty of God. On October 27, 1982 the Canadian Parliament changed the name to “Canada Day.” We’ve forgotten this.

The preamble to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Canadian Constitution begins with these words: “The Parliament of Canada, affirms that the Canadian Nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God…”. We’ve forgotten this.

In 1908, Robert Stanley Weir (a Montreal judge & poet) wrote a number of poetic verses which would later become our national anthem “O Canada”. The 4th verse of his poem went like this…

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,

Hold our Dominion in thy loving care;

Help us to find, O God, in thee

A lasting, rich reward,

As waiting for the better Day,

We ever stand on guard.

We’ve forgotten this.

The worst part of this whole trend is that not only are we in danger of losing a sense of where we’ve come from but our moral compass as well. May God have mercy on this great country we call home.

“After that whole generation had passed…another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done…” (Judges 2:10)

Joe Rioux is the Pastor of Rocky Mountain

Alliance Church

rmac@persona.ca