One of the most powerful, if not the most powerful force, at play in our subconscious lives is memory, both positive and negative memory, and both equally as powerful. Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, has a huge wall mural with the words, “We remember lest we forget.” They turned a negative memory into a positive memory, and a memory to ensure they never go back there again. Whenever Israel felt down and discouraged they remembered what God had done for them in the past, then they pulled themselves up again, and renewed their faith in God. Palm 77 is just but one example of many. Google ‘Old Testament remember’, and see how many hits you get! You can confidently say Israel built their faith in God through memory. This is how powerful memory is, and the reason why bad memories need to be healed and transformed, and good memories are treasured and built upon. Our very lives depend and revolve around our memories. The can both capture us and hurt us, and they also make us strong and positive. No wonder Jesus said, ‘When you eat this, and when you drink this, remember me.’ He knew the power of memory, and especially our memory of his love, grace and sacrifice. This memory, lived out in us, transforms everything about us. One last thought about memory. Last Sunday was All Saints Day, the day we remind ourselves about the ‘saints’ (some alive, and some dead, some we know intimately, some we don’t even know) who have influenced and shaped our lives. Why don’t you take a moment to reflect on the ‘saints’ in your life? Make a list of them and give thanks. And let me remind you a ‘saint’ is not necessarily a ‘good’ person as we are inclined to think, but that powerful, loving, influencing person that made you who you are. Most ‘saints’ I know have clay feet! It may be a national figure like Gandhi or Mandela, a family member like a Mom or a Dad, an author, a speaker, a friend, a boss, etc. etc. Let’s remember and give thanks. And if there is a bad memory, place it in God’s hands and ask him to transform and renew your mind, like he did Israel’s at Yad Vashem.