Recently, one of our high school teachers passed away. She was in her 70s. Some classmates couldn’t remember what she looked like。 So, another classmate posted on WhatsApp a group picture of teachers taken in front of our school some 40 years ago. She stood in the middle among several young teachers in their twenties.
When I went through the photos taken in the 1970s, many of them were formal portraits of family or a group of friends. Everyone lined up and sported a smile. At that time, we used cameras with film. Before taking pictures, we had to adjust the aperture and shutter speed, then focus. After using up a roll of film, we took it to a photo shop for development, which cost a lot. Therefore, we tried to make sure everyone looked good before the shuttle clicked. We took photos mainly for “commemoration” purposes.
Nowadays, cameras using film have been replaced by digital ones. We don’t need to think twice before taking photos. It does not cost a dime to take extras, and you can always delete the ones you don’t like. Also, you can make all sorts of funny faces and gestures for the pictures. After all, you can use software such as photo-shop to touch up to your satisfaction. The younger generation does not even use cameras but uses cell phones. They want their photos real and in action. The most important thing is not to commemorate, nor to record the beautiful side, but to focus on the moment. Youngsters just want to share what is real with friends and family right at that moment and instantly. Once shared, it does not matter whether others save it.
In fact, looking at old photos, how much we can remember is debatable. To be honest, it is impossible to tell where and under what circumstances each of my photos was taken. The real memory stays in our minds, and we naturally retain some memorable and important things and feelings. Photos often serve as a hint to help us remember. The high school teachers’ pictures may remind us of some events that happened in those years. It does not even matter if our memories differ. As it says, “Let bygones be bygones.” The important thing is to cherish the present and the people around us.
There is no need to record everything and archive them for the future. In a few years, the brain will do its job and filter for us what is or isn’t memorable.
Pastor Ken 2022
