Religious Education Connections
Memories
Summer memories are different from winter memories. I live
in part of the world that people like to visit in all seasons,
but definitely in the summer. So that people who are working
to accommodate the visitors – or tourists – may
not actually take vacation time during the summer. But with
the longer days and evenings that are still light, summer
activities are outside. Think of the things that we do differently
in the summer than at other times of the year.
We create memories as we live. When we laugh and cry with
others; when we share things, places and events; when we learn
new things about ourselves and the world around us, we are
actually creating memories. Every treasure that we have collected
provides a memory. There are several ways to collect and preserve
memories.
First, some congregations, groups and families, take a small
jar and collect water from different places that they have
been during the summer, like on a trip, or even collected
from a rain storm. You can do that. Then have a special service,
sometimes called ‘water communion’. Each person
present can pour their water into a bowl and tell where the
water is from and the memories it brings. In my own church
in Augusta, Maine, the water is boiled to make sure that it
is clean, and used for special occasions in the church, like
during dedications of children. You may want to put some of
the water on a family altar, or use it for a special bouquet
of flowers. The water itself is not magical, but it is special
because it was collected as part of a memory.
Second, here is a guided meditation about what you are taking
from the summer. You can always go back to special places
in your mind. Decide whether you are going to focus on the
whole summer or on a specific event, such as a trip. This
is how this meditation goes:
Get into a comfortable position. You are welcome to
close your eyes for a short guided meditation about the
summer. You can come back from the meditation at any time
by just opening your eyes.
Think back to the beginning of the summer or a special
event. Think of all the things that you did. Pick out one
time that was special, and you felt good. It can be any
time from a special game, a story, when you were swimming,
when you met someone new or an old friend.
Remember who was with you or if you were alone. Remember
the sounds around you. Remember the smells. Remember what
you were wearing and what you were doing. Remember the good
feeling.
We all have times when things may not go so well, and
we all need to remember things that are special. Take your
time you are thinking about. You can come back to that time
and that memory any time.
But for now, gradually come back to this space where
you are physically. And when you feel like it, open your
eyes.
Religious Education
Connections Summer 2004 Contents
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