p. 7 | The Duty of Forgetting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 10, 1911

The Duty of Forgetting

IT is nearly as important to forget as it is to remember. The apostle says, "Forgetting those things which are behind." May we forget?—Yes; but as it requires an effort to remember, so it requires an honest effort to forget. We should dismiss from the mind all the vile things which have found lodgment there. Open the cage, and let the unclean birds fly away. But they will not go? Then give the cage away. Turn over the memory to the Lord Jesus, let him have his way, and he will make a clean sweep. Let the stronger man in, and he will bind the strong man, and cast him out. One may have his mind so full of Christ and his love and life that base things will take their departure.

We must not overstate a matter. The truth may suffer from exaggeration. Let us not claim more than the facts will warrant. But we may be well assured that our Lord can so charm any soul with his beauty and loveliness that all vile things will lose their hold. We all know that a man can easily forget one pleasure when he is introduced to another which is sweeter. You can forget one companion when you become thoroughly acquainted with another who fills your heart and mind. So we can forget the leeks and onions of Egypt when we have tasted the milk and honey of Canaan. Cast out the vile by making way for the pure.

Forget injuries. Forget the faults of neighbors, and the injustice they have inflicted on you. Forget old grudges and strifes. This is a national obligation. There is a national as well as an individual memory. What is memory?—A record of the past. What is history?—A record of the past. The one is national, the other individual. The one is written with a pen, the other on the tablet of memory. Writing history is a means of perpetuating the memory of the fathers and their patriotic and heroic deeds. By monuments and statues we seek to hand down to future generations, and keep fresh in our own minds, the lives and names of men who have done something for their generation. But it is also a national duty to forget.

In almost every war there is a favorite war-cry. "Remember the 'Maine,'" is still fresh in mind. Whatever good purpose that cry may have served at one time, awakening enthusiasm and patriotism, it is quite certain that this sort of

remembering may be overdone, and it has been overdone. Some people would continue to remember the “Maine” too long. It is well to forget the “Maine.” Our country will do well to forget the strife between the States which raged fifty years ago. He is no true friend of his country who will fan the flames of hate. We have a great future before us; but if we are to realize it in all its fulness, we must have the courage and good sense to forget many things.

Bury all strife and hate so deep that they can never have a resurrection. Forget mistakes and blunders. One is weakened by brooding over his mistakes. If our errors have any place, let it be to inspire us to more heroic, intelligent, and thoughtful labors in the time to come.—Selected.