Remembrance is of greater value than Reminiscence

When Paul wrote to Timothy he encouraged him to remember what he had learned by reproducing it into the lives of others ... today we define this as "mentoring" ... remembering by reproducing ... grasping what was being learnt more than when it was learnt ...

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. – 2 Timothy 2:1-2

My father was born in 1895 and died in 1980, I recall over the years since his death many people telling me my dad was a “man’s man” . . . they had seen him in life, work, recreation, community and action … I had lived with him … what I think they were really seeking to express is – “he was a mentor’s mentor”.

He had two sons, I am the younger one - both my brother and I were amongst the men he mentored. These days we often reflect on our lessons learned, lived and passed onto others from him.


Now in our sixties, when we talk over life with our folks, the recall-focus is “more upon what was happening than when it happened” – that is the difference between remembrance and reminiscence.