A Unique Time Capsule

I have the opportunity to gaze deeply into a small window of my life a way back. Several weeks ago I received a phone call. Someone had found a box of my personal items, left in an in attic decades ago; the caller ticked off a list of some of the contents in the box—items I recognized—then he asked, “Do you want this box?” Of course I did! even a couple of the items he listed would be treasures in themselves.

The box arrived. I won’t bore you with its contents, but out popped that wondrous window into my past. As I sorted through the contents, memories flashed through my brain; some recall was clear and cherished. Other items brought only vague recollection. The surprise was that some reminders were entirely different from my current memory; “Oh! I don’t remember it that way!” But there it was, physical documentation of time, place, or event.

I was (and maybe still am) having confabulations; which happen to people often. The reality of confabulation is such that “eye witness” testimony has proved to be questionable, if not unreliable. We all have confabulations. It is quite likely that when you went to a class reunion, you discovered that you remembered a person’s name or their relationship differently—which caused a pause, if not embarrassment.

I did not pack this box as a time capsule but it turns out to be one. It accurately captures a window into my past, and offers opportunity to reminisce. An unexpected opportunity, is that it offers my children and grandchildren an accurately curated recall of “The way it was.” At any rate, these items will somewhat verify some of my tales .

I have to admit I get a profound sense of joy as I finger through the contents of this box. I have no deadline, and I don’t have to answer any test questions. This is simply an unexpected serendipity. One of the joys life has to offer is an unexpected, unearned excursion, adding new dimensions to the day. That phone call certainly was unexpected and like Mary Lennox’ s discovery of the secret garden in her uncle’s estate, it opened wonderful vistas of past times.

Looking back can be a helpful guide to moving into the future. There is just enough content in that box to help a little with that effort. One helpful point is to handle past, present, and future relationships with grace. No one is perfect. A window into the past, as minute and brief as it may be, invites opportunity for grace.

Lest you suspect that I discovered a reminder of some egregious deed, I did not. Although I do have memory of my wrong deeds, words, and unkindness—that is not my focus here. I recall what St John of Patmos wrote—that if we confess our sins, God will forgive. That is grace of which I speak.

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2024