While there are big events in a person’s life, mostly life is made of many small moments. Our memories are like that too. We recall the major holidays, and we can look back at things that did not seem important at the time but led to something big, but it is rare to mark the time as it is happening.
Globally, we remember that on November 11, 100 years ago, the world celebrated Armistice Day when “the war to end all wars” came to an end. Nationally, we collect up all of our family traditions to celebrate Thanksgiving, which is neither religious nor patriotic. At UUFE, we remember our traditions of our families as we celebrate with our church family the Ethnic bread service. All of these annual things happen because to remember is to keep something alive.
Another important November day dedicated to memory is on November 20, the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR.) Our UU church in South Bend will have a special service from 6:30 to 8pm that I will attend and I hope you will come, too. Among the many subgroups that make up the LGBTQ community, the Transgender community has an alarmingly high rate of violent deaths. Different from Pride Day which celebrate queer life, TDOR brings awareness to the dangers of living a life unapproved by our patriarchal culture.
Memory is ingrained in all of our senses and can bring us sweetness and sadness, sometimes at the same time. A certain smell can remind us of something or someone long ago. The taste of a family recipe can transport us back in time. Recently, I marveled at the Jewish Federation as they sang together from memory.
However you tap into your memories or your desire to make new ones, may the sweetness of life overflow with your efforts. Memory making and recalling times past are November things to do as it gets colder and we begin to huddle indoors more. May we be thankful for all we have in our comings and goings.
In peace, Rev. Amy