Great Memories

Posted on July 23, 2010 by Ron Ash| Leave a comment

Sometimes having a great memory can be a disadvantage. Having the memory of ten elephants, as my Uncle Danny confesses to having can cause problems. It may be the very thing that restricts us absent of necessity.
As I think back to childhood and reflect upon a story I was once told about a baby elephant at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence this fact becomes increasingly clear. After all, elephants are well known for the extent of their memories. Many have heard the expression, “An elephant never forgets”. What if we never forgot? Could we truly move ahead and continuously strive for our goals as we concentrate on our past or would we be continually restricted by past attempts?
Let us think of that baby elephant for a moment. I’m certain that he tried repeatedly to break free of his restraints when first tied. However, after many attempts he began to accept the fact that he was not strong enough to escape from his bounds. Then he believed that every further attempt would be futile. Eventually the young elephant stopped trying.
Overtime his reality changed, but his illusion didn’t. Although he had grown exponentially larger and stronger the memory of the young elephant’s failed attempts were etched deep in his mind. “I can’t do it” became his reality; grounded in stone and etched in his mind by his vivid memories.
Today that elephant has the power to push through walls. He could very easily pull up that stake or break loose from the rope tied to his leg. Yet, his memory of the past foiled attempts is so strong that he chooses to no longer try. Today he is much more capable than he was in his youth, but his strong memory now restricts him.
You see, a strong memory is not always a good thing especially if we allow it to restrict us. We all have many memories; some good and some bad, but when we fail to purge the bad we fail without trying. It is our responsibility to take the time to evaluate our current situation, to take account of all that we have been blessed with this day and utilize our God given abilities in order to propel us forward into the Promise.
We are ever changing, continuously growing and more capable every day. What once disabled us in our past often become the tools that enable us in the Now. Today we must take into account the strength we have today and concentrate on the limitless possibilities that exist in every “Now Moment” to come.