Wednesday, May 13, 2026

“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp.” (Psalm 137:5, New Living Translation)

            “On the count of three; we will forget all about this. One. Two. Three.”

This is how the flock of sheep in the marvellous, poignant movie, The Sheep Detectives, deal with calamity, with those things that are unpleasant, hurtful and troubling. They have the ability simply to wipe it all out of their minds and continue to live in their supposedly idyllic world under the care of their good shepherd, George They have forgotten all about pain, suffering and death.  Their world is simply and wonderfully confined to their green pastures and the tender loving care of the shepherd. Even when their shepherd is murdered, their first inclination is to count to three and forget all about him and his death. But the lead ram stops them and reminds them how important it is to remember always the one who had thoughtfully named each one of them and had constantly cared and tended for them.  George shouldn’t be forgotten even though he was gone. He had a place in their hearts.

But it is tempting to envy the sheep’s ability to forget pain and death. We have never been able to explain adequately why there is suffering in our lives or why God allows bad things it happen to us. We do know that we go through fire, wind and storm. We are grieved by and suffer through the loss of loved ones. We suffer setbacks and losses. We make terrible choices and mistakes. We know sickness and disease. We look at the world and shudder at its state of affairs. Wouldn’t it be pleasant, sometimes, to count to three and forget all about the past?

There is one sheep in the movie who can’t ever forget like the others. He remembers everything, both the good and the bad. When the heroine sheep, Lily, realizes this, she asks him how he can possibly bear it. He replies that it is all the good things that he remembers which helps him, like remembering his mother’s face.  He held onto these memories in gratitude and love. The memories didn’t change the world one bit but it sustained him. They helped him survive and thrive.

Do we really want to forget those whom we have loved and have been part of our lives? Do we really want to forget those times when we life made us happy, joyful, content? Do we really want to forget those deeply satisfying times in our lives when life was full and abundant? Because if we forget all about the bad times, we will forget all about the good times with the people who mattered the most.

Like Jesus said, we have sadness in this world but our tears will turn to joy. “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.” (John  16:22) Memories are a powerful source of love, joy, hope, energy, strength and nurture.  They remind us of what is important and who matters. Our memories lead us into  a future that may never be perfect (on this world anyway) but a world made better because of the people we loved and who loved us.

The Sheep Detectives has Psalm 23 written all over it, although I doubt that was the inspiration for the movie. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  These words remind us of the continuous loving presence of God for each of us. Even when they murdered our Good Shepherd, we were not abandoned. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” These are words which I never want to forget. Thankfully God remembers us in our afflictions, trials and hurts. “He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100; 3)

The Psalmist, King David himself perhaps, says that forgetting the wonders of God’s Presence would be like cutting off the music. He’d rather not be ale to play the harp than forget the beauty and grace that God gives.  Let us continually remember and not forget the ongoing, ever-present Love of God. Let us never forget those who have shared that love with us. Yes, it hurts sometimes, but the joy far surpasses the sorrow we experience.

Now, on the count of three. One. Two, Three.  Remember!

 

Prayer:

Ou Loving Shepherd, may we never forget the Love that you have for each and every one of us. May we cherish the memories of the people who have shared and enriched our lives. Grant that we will always recall all the beauty, grace, joy, wonder, generosity that have filled our lives each and every day. Help us when sorrows, struggles and pain try to overwhelm us. Help us to trust in your Compassion and Love, now and forever. In Jesus’ name. Ame