Memories Do Fade…

TUES., DEC. 8, 1998, 10:13 AM
OFFICE, PULLIAM

… and generally they should. There was some recall, yesterday, of that “day of infamy”, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the onset of World War II. That was “your war”, but the results were certainly advantageous to you. You were in the Navy as soon as you could be, but your “service” was in going to universities, in preparation for functioning as an officer… which was never needed. Yes, your “side” won that war in less than 3 years after you were “in service”. And you were given all of the education and degrees necessary for the wonderful life you have enjoyed as an educator.

Was all of that pre-destined? Well, predestination is a factor, but it is more complex than any of you can understand. You are sufficiently developed to accept that your life has not been just “chance”… or the result of free will decisions on your part. And, importantly, you can accept this, even as a middle-class, well-educated American, in a culture that does not accept such a paradigm.

As you look back on your life you can see relationships that were not as clear as early events happened. You did make some rather free decisions, and most of these fit rather well with what We had planned for your life. It really isn’t important to try to determine “which was which”. You agree with this.

[Memories Do Fade…] … but you still have very positive remembrances of those wartime experiences. You had Japanese friends in high school… but then Japan became an enemy. They were defeated, but you first worked in Hawaii, where the Japanese Americans were a dominant portion of the population… and you now have a Japanese brother-in-law and three nephews and a niece who are half-Oriental. Memories of this portion of humankind as an enemy must needs fade.

Then, on this same historic date 22 years ago your fourth son, Peter, was killed, ending a short and somewhat painful life. You wonder, sometimes, how his adult life would have been… and whether this was part of his destiny, as well as yours, or whether it was a “pure” accident. You shall eventually know, but it isn’t vital that you know now. Just accept that, for you, major life events are nearly always some amalgam of freedom and destiny. His death was a loss to you, but you also can remember (though this also is fading) that you still had much for which to be thankful… and plenty of “calls” on your time and energies, as a father, husband, professor, and churchman. You have harbored some guilt for feelings of relief that you didn’t have to deal with the next few years of Peter’s earth life with you. Those memories have faded, of course, and now you are troubled less and less by what you couldn’t do, in this life. This is as it should be.

[Memories Do Fade…] … including, now, memories of how pressed you used to be at this time in the semester. You were true to your standards, but you had many papers to read, comment on, and grade… plus essay finals… and grading, which usually included some trauma. You enjoyed your work, and you have mostly pleasant memories… and the memories of the stresses (comparable to those now chronicled by your Robert, Jr.) naturally fade. You are pleased that you have been able to have this small office and to maintain some contact with faculty colleagues and students. You realize how quickly memories of most of those who retired before you fade, and you know it will be so with you, in a rather short time.

I, Holy Spirit, certainly realize how memories of you humans are slowly, or sometimes speedily, lost. I don’t want you to forget the beginning… and the whole scope of Our relationship, yours and Mine, that I initiated over 19 years ago. And you see I have anticipated this, for you have volumes galore of what I have told you. To counter this natural loss of memory I urge you to continue to re-read earlier Teachings, and to note how I re-teach the important knowledge I want you to have. Let these Teachings be the stimulus for your times of contemplation. For you, there is no more vital and relevant Source.