Choir Notes

The Next Generation:
From Music and the Spoken Word
Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell . Program 4097

In every family, each generation passes stories and traditions to the next. The knowledge and experiences that are transmitted in this way become a family's collective memory. It not only is a history of who they have been, but also a constitution of who they are, and a road map for what they can become. If families don't continue to pass along these memories, stories, knowledge, and skills, they become lost to the next generation.

Much of what is worth remembering is simple and prosaic, not dramatic and spectacular. Who would ever want to forget the family vacations filled with mishaps and adventures, or the many experiences of rearing a family with all its joys and heartache? What about a skill learned at the hand of a grandfather, a poem learned in the lap of a mother? These family connections are more vital to a family's identity than the more obvious physical traits they may share.

We may think we'll never forget the tender moments, the funny times, and the poignant exchanges that stir our souls, but memory can fade.

Today with the marvels of modern technology it's easier than ever to preserve and share such memories. It still takes effort and desire, but in a matter of minutes we can create a lasting record of the past and present, send it on to others, and keep the memories alive.

We all hope that something will outlive us, something will linger for a while after we're gone. The things of this world will soon be forgotten and turn to dust, but stories and memories, skills, and knowledge can last forever. The present always becomes the past for someone else. If we are wise, and we take the time and make the effort, we can leave a remarkable legacy that will teach, inform, and inspire the next generation.