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Big transformations can happen in just a moment. A moment that surprises you, and beckons you to participate—to step out of the ordinary to have an active part in an amazing story, rather passively remaining a spectator. Life-Shaping Memories I remember a ‘moment’ in my life, when, as a 12-year-old taking a typing class in summer school taught by the upper elementary school math teacher. Mr. LaGarde. One day, during a break in our instruction, Mr. LaGarde sat down with me and another girl, and began to chat. I remember him asking me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” No one, not even my parents, had asked me that question before. What do I want to be? What do I WANT to be? In that moment, it was like a light came on in my ‘person’ that had never been on before. And I don’t think I had any real dreams at that time. A teacher? Maybe. A singer? That would be cool. A nurse? Don’t think so. But something popped into my head almost immediately. I am not even sure why I knew about this profession. answered, “A psychiatrist.” Mr. LaGarde seemed as surprised by that answer as I was. “What made you interested in being a psychiatrist?”, he asked. I didn’t have a prepared response. But a response came out of my mouth anyway. Something like, “I want to help people. Like my family. Sometimes they argue and it’s really sad.” From that moment on, I had a compulsion to learn about people and emotions. Though I did NOT become a psychiatrist or even a counselor, that moment made me suddenly aware of mental health (even though I wouldn’t have called it that). I would read about depression, and phobias, and anger issues. I took counselling courses in graduate school. And I toyed with changing my major several times before I graduated with an MA in Christian Communication. Even so, a life-long interest in emotional woundedness began that day in summer school. I suppose it would be labelled a core memory. Core Memories? While the animated movie Inside Out made the term ‘core memory’ popular, the mental health experts find that description to be simplistic—our minds are complicated, flexible machines. However, “Core memory,” in the movie understanding of the word, might be defined as “a deeply emotional, formative event that profoundly shapes a person’s identity, or worldview.” (AI Overview, accessed 7/10/26). No doubt, memories that tend to come to mind often (due to emotions we felt at the time, or the significance of the event), influence our beliefs and our ‘triggers’ and shape the lenses through which we view our world. BUT, memories can be ‘re-written’ or ‘re-interpreted’ as we progress through life with new experiences that connect in some way with a memory. Dramatic, impactful, and surprising events, like the assassination of a president, or the Apollo Mission to the moon, or the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, become a shared, relatable memory among large populations who witness the events in real time. If you witnessed any of these, you probably have an image in your mind of where you were and what you were doing when that news stopped you in your tracks. When something profound suddenly changed. With that in mind, put yourself in this scene recorded in John 21. A “Flashbulb” Memory for Jesus’ Disciples Seven of Jesus disciples went out in their boat on Lake Tiberias to do some fishing, and they were out all night. They caught nothing. In the morning, they returned to shore. Post-resurrection Jesus was standing on the shore when they drew near. He called out to them, “Catch anything???” I imagine them not even looking up to see who it was, and in frustrated unison yelling back a terse, “No!” The man on shore calls out again: “Hey! Try this! Lower your net on the right side of the boat!” They look up at this man, roll their eyes, and reluctantly they throw the net once more. “And the net was so full of fish they could not drag it up into the boat.”(John 21:6b) One moment:
If the disciples had once again begun to settle into life BC (before Jesus) —just your day-in-day-out fishermen, then this event was about to shake them out of their defeated minds. John, the author of this gospel and self-proclaimed “favorite disciple” of Jesus, was the first to recognize Jesus. John told Peter. Peter jumped out of the boat into the lake and hurried to shore. And, true to who He is, Jesus was ready to feed them. Feed them physically and feed them spiritually. It was in this scene that Jesus gave Peter an opening to reverse his three denials of Jesus before he was crucified. Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times Peter said, “Yes, Lord.” And three times, Jesus charged Peter with caring for his sheep, his followers. Think about it. Jesus entrusted His flock to Peter. Jesus entrusted Peter with continuing the life or death work He started, with spreading the news of the Kingdom. Peter, John, and the other five disciples who were on that boat. . . what might they remember every time they fished? Every time they SAW a fish? Every time they ate fish? “Hey! Try the right side of the boat!” And then, I am certain their memory jumped to an earlier day when they were called by Jesus. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They did. And everything changed. To Make an Impact, Make a Memory Jesus knew how to make an impression. How to make a memory—one that brings with it all the images and the emotions, and the magnitude of His call on a life. Like Jesus, like my elementary math teacher, or any person who strives to be a good guide to others—maybe me, maybe you—must recognize opportune moments for a formative memory. One that instills hope, courage, vision, and that will stand against ANY untruth, or discouragement, or disillusionment. The Galapagos guides certainly facilitated activities that were so much more than just “go there, see this, take a picture, now on to the next thing” tour.
When a discerning mentor helps us notice and experience those potentially transformational moments; OR when we are honored to serve in that capacity for someone else, life becomes ABUNDANT LIFE in these divine clarifying moments—deeply felt, movie-like memories that should not be diminished. Prayer: Father, I am thankful for the mentors, encouragers, and memory-makers throughout my life. Without them, who, and where would I be? Some are aware of their influence, but most are not. They simply share what they know, invite others in, and don’t let them off with an easy, “no thanks.” Lord, I long to be that kind of mentor—someone who sees others through discerning eyes, who invites them to take one more step, who does not just go through motions, but lives the adventure every moment of every day. And at the end of THIS day, may I have a new faith-building memory added to the temple you’re constructing in me. Amen 
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