As biblical storytellers, we don't like to use the word “memorize”, or any of its manifestations. That's because we are writing the words on our hearts. We are owning them. We are making them a part of the very tapestry of who we are. There's actually nothing wrong with the “m” word; it just has some nasty connotations. It conjures up nightmares of having to spout some inane poem in grade school, or stumbling through a half-learned play. I remember sitting in the car on the way to church, madly memorizing the memory verse for Sunday School. If I could blurt it out to my teacher soon enough after arriving, I'd get my little gold star for the week. By the time we got home from church, I had forgotten the verse. Now that's not to say it's all bad. It isn't. Many of the verses did stick, and I am grateful for the kind of upbringing I received. I truly did learn a lot in Sunday School.
Thing is, many people are just intimidated by the very idea of “memorizing”, and yet they'll go around quoting their favourite movies. How often have you heard people quipping “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die”? Or "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine"? How often have you said those or similar? How many times have you sung along with a commercial jingle? What about your national anthem? Amazing Grace? See? You can memorize! (Eeek! I'm remembering “967-11-11 Call Pizza Pizza” and I have a hard time with my own phone number!)
With biblical storytelling, we take ownership of the scripture. The “memorizing”, if you want to call it that, becomes part of a worship journey. For me, it's amazing, because I have to take so much time with it. I have to soak in it, breathe it in, in order to own it. So how do we go about doing it?
The Biblegateway website has some wonderful tips for memorizing scripture. (I know, I know, there's the “m” word again.) I like this list, so here's the link. http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/03/ten-tips-for-memorizing-bible-verses/ I think, as you look at the list, you will see how it's not really about memorizing, but about taking ownership that I keep talking about. Go ahead. Write it on your heart.
Thing is, many people are just intimidated by the very idea of “memorizing”, and yet they'll go around quoting their favourite movies. How often have you heard people quipping “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die”? Or "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine"? How often have you said those or similar? How many times have you sung along with a commercial jingle? What about your national anthem? Amazing Grace? See? You can memorize! (Eeek! I'm remembering “967-11-11 Call Pizza Pizza” and I have a hard time with my own phone number!)
With biblical storytelling, we take ownership of the scripture. The “memorizing”, if you want to call it that, becomes part of a worship journey. For me, it's amazing, because I have to take so much time with it. I have to soak in it, breathe it in, in order to own it. So how do we go about doing it?
The Biblegateway website has some wonderful tips for memorizing scripture. (I know, I know, there's the “m” word again.) I like this list, so here's the link. http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/03/ten-tips-for-memorizing-bible-verses/ I think, as you look at the list, you will see how it's not really about memorizing, but about taking ownership that I keep talking about. Go ahead. Write it on your heart.