Memory is a powerful and precious gift. Yes, there are awful things that we can and sometimes have to remember and even work hard to forget. On the other hand, there are so many things in our memory that are precious and wonderful, just waiting for us to give them an invitation to come back and join us for a moment.

    Sometimes we have to work hard at recalling distant memories, but when they start to flow, they tumble down on top of each other filling our hearts with laughter and delight. Other times a faint aroma, a whiff of perfume, the fragrance of flowers, or the musty smell of a closet bring us a trunk-load of childhood memories filled with joy. Often times a song, a book, a line of poetry, a trip to an old place we used to live can bring long-forgotten memories to the surface and then set them loose to cascade from one to another in a frenzy of excited remembrance.

    For some reason, the All Star game for Major League Baseball awakens the Wistful Place for me. Maybe it was the friendly but passionate arguments my dad and I had over Pete Rose when we watched the game together. Maybe it was that my dad taught me to throw and catch and hit as well as took me to minor league baseball games. So I wasn’t surprised that I found myself thinking about him today on the way to play a round golf. It was fun to think back to those great experiences we had so long ago. He was there with me, not just in the memories but in my heart, as I remembered. As I played with someone I met for the first time, he asked if I was kin to Al Ware, someone he respected and admired when he was in college. I proudly said he was my dad. More memories erupted!

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

    Thankfully my dad did more than teach me to throw, catch, and hit. He also taught me about Jesus. He gave me an example of how to pray with passion and speak about grace and not let anyone steal away the truth about the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life. He was not just my fan when I played, but he was also my first mentor in faith. He wasn’t perfect: but coupled with my mom’s devotion to the Lord, they formed a powerful combination. I was raised with many great memories of everyday normal “stuff” that were always highlighted by a thread of faith. For me, the Wistful Place is also a place of faith and hope!

    One of these days, our children and grandchildren will find themselves in the Wistful Place. Let’s make sure that we have spent time to be there with them in the everyday events of their lives, helped them meet the Lord, and shown them our faith in action. Let’s show them that our faith is not about religion, but about life, joy, and wonderful memories. Let’s make sure the Wistful Place we leave them is not just about memories from the past, but is also a place of anticipation for our future joyful reunion with the Lord, his people, and our family of faith!

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. — 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Title: "That Wistful Place"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: July 16, 2001

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