Memory ... a tool of grace.
For me today I am thankful for memory; with two cochlear implants now, the ability to hear people relies on my memory — if I heard your voice once, my mind will associate the electrical current it receives through the cochlear processor with that memory — and I will "hear" you. If I have not heard you before, I must rely on voices I have stored in my mind and create your voice- you will never know how I hear you, but I will "hear" you!
I often wonder what it will be like as I perhaps enter into dementia someday and even face Alzheimer's disease. My mother (the third one) passed on with the early stages of Alzheimers, but her dementia was far advanced — science is still trying to sort out how those illnesses really work — but they are real.
Perhaps my future will be like a house of mirrors with all the voices I have heard and will be hearing; playing tricks on me, silly as that may seem. Who knows?
But ... regardless of the outcome, I am confident I will be able to hear my Father's voice. I am reminded of that, John 10:27): My sheep listen to (in some versions hear) my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
What will tomorrow be like? Listen — that's what I will be doing ... by grace.
