Remembrance

 Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.
Joel 1:3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jol.1.3.ESV

We might assume that this verse is about something positive. After all, we want those after us to remember happy memories. Yet this verse in context is about God's judgement.

A plague of locusts had torn through the land, leaving devastation in their wake. Why we want to remember that? Because it came as a judgement of God on His rebellious people. To remember serves as a warning for future generations.

It's a little bit like Remembrance Day in the UK. We remember the sacrifices of the armed forces, especially in the World Wars, for the freedom that we enjoy. Something bad- like death and devastation, served to enable the freedom we enjoy.

Even after the plague of coronavirus, there have been attempts to memorialise people's experiences. I've been part of a secular project known as CoronaDiaries, where I shared songs that got me through the lockdowns. I was anonymised as 'Colin', but our contributions have been saved for posterity.

'Lord, help us to remember Your mercies even in the midst of judgement. May we warn subsequent generations of the dangers of rebelling against You. In Jesus' name, amen'

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