Tending memory

When people are forced to flee their homes, they do not usually fuss over furniture or a closet full of clothes. Besides what they need for immediate survival, they grab photo albums, diaries, heirlooms – whatever has memory value. We understand this, just as we instinctively grieve with those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. (One such story is told in this issue.) We grieve because the patient’s life is diminished, but also because those around the patient no longer have that person’s input into who they are.

We know that memory and meaning are linked. And we know that the work of memory, when it fails at the personal level, has to be taken up by somebody else.

On a denominational level, however, it seems we are often ambivalent about the importance of memory. One hears expressions like: MB amnesia, loss of identity, leaders without historical consciousness.

The reasons are surely various. One is probably the wider cultural milieu, which has become neglectful of history. Perhaps Mennonite storytelling was overly preoccupied with our Russian–German roots and thus felt musty and irrelevant. Perhaps, hauled out mainly for commemorations, it felt self-congratulatory. It may also be that we have not understood how the energy of the historical endeavour complements the study and pursuit of evangelism.

We have an obligation, however, under God, to remember and to reflect on the past. Such work preserves but also selects, lets go, shapes. It forces us to embrace and recognize change. It helps us think about what we are becoming. It deliberately grafts into the movement’s history the stories of those who have joined us, or associations we have joined.

What might tending our memory more intentionally involve? It would encourage the writing of memoirs by past leaders, or the commissioning of biographies. When someone like J.M. Klassen, long-time head of MCC Canada, for example, takes the time to set down his autobiography (Jacob’s Journey: From Zagradowka toward Zion), we receive an enormous gift of memory and wisdom.

It might, further, include a new history of the Canadian MB Church. The divestiture of the General Conference provides a new framework for historical inquiry. Such a project might involve a book, but perhaps also the commissioning of scholarly and popular history articles, drama, video or Web work. An exciting example of history on the Web is the recently launched website about conscientious objectors (see News).

It might involve bringing some of our “veterans” of church work into settings where they share their stories and allow youth and younger leaders to pick their brains about situations they faced. It could involve financial support for young scholars to explore specific facets of our church history and theology.

It will involve a strong and ongoing commitment to the Centre for MB Studies, which has an infrastructure for historical work. This is the place where projects like the above can be initiated and nurtured. The Centre does not lack for ideas or work, but has recently laboured under the sense that it needs to keep defending its mandate and existence.

Let’s ensure that the forward thinking of our Conference includes the work of looking back.

About this issue

Illustration: Lorlie Barkman

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:10

This verse could sum up the focus of this issue, in its look at the beauty and challenges of being older. The awareness of being created as God’s handiwork comes easily, of course, in reference to a newborn child. Taking my new granddaughter Maia in my arms recently was just such a “Praise Be!” experience.

But no less is Maia’s great-great-grandmother, still alive in a nursing home, God’s beautiful handiwork. We are God’s work, present tense. Created in Christ Jesus for good works, prepared in advance, prepared to be enacted in His purposes now.

Sandra Crux writes about planning for a retirement that includes Kingdom service. Cara Pauls and Helen Rose Pauls show us the dynamic contribution of and ministry with the older generation in two of our MB churches. John Derksen’s story of his father’s faith and Alzheimer’s addresses another facet of aging, but places it into the context of a community that cares and hopes.

The illustration above is by Lorlie Barkman, who reflected on his father’s loss of memory through words and drawings in the book, Remember, Dad? Lorlie is frequently invited into personal care homes where he uses cartooning to open windows of memory for the residents.

In this issue too, there’s an amazing story of new opportunities for the church in Paraguay. This piece, by Harold Jantz, should call us to prayer for our brothers and sisters in that country. While praying, let’s remember too the Canadian government recently elected. May we all be faithful in doing the work we are, right now, given to do.