The recent film Inside Out is all about how memory
helps to shape our identity. It focuses
on Riley, an 11-year old girl and her struggle to adjust to life when her family
moves from Minnesota to San Francisco. Her feelings are controlled by five
characters representing her emotions; Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear and Anger.
As
we've come to expect of Pixar. the film is a visually stunning spectacle,
especially as we join Joy and Sadness on a trip around Riley's brain as they
seek to recover her personality-forming core memories. I
won't spoil the plot for you by summarising it here. If you left it too late to
catch the film in the cinema, get the DVD or something. You’ll enjoy it.
Watching it put me in mind of Augustine’s classic treatment of the theme of
memory in his Confessions. But that’s probably just
me.
The
month of November evokes memories. There’s Bonfire Night, which recalls Guy
Fawkes’ foiled attempt to blow up parliament. The old ditty calls us to
‘Remember, remember the 5th of November/Gunpowder, treason and plot.’ And then
there’s Remembrance Sunday on 8th November and Remembrance Day on the 11th,
commemorating the end of the First World War. On those days the whole nation
pauses to remember those who gave their lives for this country. Their sacrifice
should not be forgotten.
Some
of our memories are sad and others happy. In the film Inside Out, Joy keeps trying to cheer Riley up, as she's feeling out
of sorts in her new environment. At all costs she wants to stop Sadness touching
the girl's core memories. But it is only when Riley is allowed to feel sad that
she realises how much she is loved and pulls back from doing something stupid.
We wouldn't choose sad times in our lives. But they are often occasions when
family and friends have rallied round and surprised us with the warmth of their
love and care.
Memory is an important aspect of the Christian faith.
Jesus knew that he was about to lay down his life so that those who believe in
him may be forgiven and be put right with God. He told his followers to eat a
simple meal of bread and wine in remembrance of him. The bread was a symbol of
his body and the wine of his blood. Nigh on 2,000 years later Christians
continue to remember Jesus in that way. The Lord wanted his people never to
forget how much he loved them. He said, ‘Greater love has no one than this, than
this: to lay down his life for his friends.’ That’s something worth remembering
all year round.
* For News & Views & Trinity parish magazines.
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