Memory and Forgetfulness

In honour of Remembrance Day, I would like to share a story that comes from a book in our own library by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso called "But God Remembered: Stories of Women from Creation to the Promised Land." 

 The story is about Memory and Forgetfulness:

Before God created man and woman, God wanted to create Memory and Forgetfulness. But the angels protested.
 
The Angel of Song said, "Do not create Forgetfulness. People will forget the songs of their ancestors."
 
The Angel of Stories said, "If you create Forgetfulness, man and woman will forget many good stories."
 
The Angel of Names said, "Forget songs? Forget stories? They will not even remember each other's names."
 
God listened to the complaints of the angels. And God asked the angels what kinds of things they remembered.
 
At first, the angels remembered what it was like before the world was formed. Then as the angels talked about the time before time existed, they recalled moments when they did not always agree.
 
One angel yelled at another, "I remember when your fiery sword burned the hem of my robe!"
 
"And I remember when you knocked me down and tore a hole in my wing," screamed another.
 
As the angels remembered everything that ever happened, their voices grew louder and louder until the heavens thundered.
 
God said, "FORGET IT!"
 
And there was Forgetfulness.
 
All at once the angels forgot why they were angry at each other and their voices became angelic again. And God saw that it was good.
 
God said, "There are some things people will need to forget."
The angels objected. "People will forget what they should remember."
 
God said, "I will remember all the important things. I will plant the seeds of remembrance in the soul of My people."
 
And so it was that over time people forgot many of the songs, stories and names of their ancestors.
 
But God remembered.
 
Remembrance is not a one-sided thing, neither is conflict. God created memory and forgetfulness so that we could have peace and wholeness.