NEW NORMAL

NEW NORMAL
From the sermon “Lest We Forget”
Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Some years ago, I learned a new phrase, “a new normal”. I understand it to mean that what is the “normal” during one period of time may no longer be the “normal” at another period of time, so we get a “new normal”.

For example, during my childhood, the “normal” was for me and my five siblings, each of us, to have a place on the floor to sleep. Only my parents slept on a bed. The rest of us slept on the floor.

When I got married, and moved out of my parents’ home, I finally had a bed of my own. (Some of you may find it hard to believe, but I never slept on a proper bed at home till I was married.) Having a bed of my own became a “new normal”.

So when we had our two daughters, each of them slept on a bed of her own—in the same room. That was because their bed was a double-decker bed. They had their own bed but share the same room.

Then came another “new normal”—when we left Singapore and relocated to the United States (where we lived for more than 10 years), we moved into a house. Because there were many rooms in the house, each of our daughters not only had her own bed, but also her own room. That became another “new normal”.

So from no bed and no room, to a bed but no room, to a bed and own room. Each time we reach a “new normal” we think it is “normal” to have what we have. We look for the next “normal”.

That’s basically what happens with progress and prosperity. We take for granted what we have, and feel we deserve more and better. Wanting something better in itself is not wrong. But what often happens in such situations is that we forget to be grateful for what we have.

We forget that there was a time we didn’t have it. We thought we had always had it, and take it for granted.

That was the danger the people of Israel faced as they prepared to enter the promised land. That is why God warned them:

“And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Take care lest you forget the Lord your God….” Deut 8.10-11.

The words “lest you forget” or “lest we forget” is the title of our sermon today. If you have travelled and visited tourist attractions like the “Arizona Memorial” in Hawaii, or the “Holocaust Museum” in Israel, or our own “Reflections at Bukit Chandu” in Pasir Panjang, you will see those words somewhere: “Lest We Forget”.

These words are inscribed on memorials to remind us never to forget some tragedy or atrocity done in the past.

Don’t ever forget the past, what happened at one time in history. Make sure it does not happen again. These words and memorials serve to remind us of those who made sacrifices for us, who gave us what we now enjoy. Don’t forget what they did, don’t forget what we once were, and where we came from.

Have you forgotten? What is your “new normal”—do you still remember your “old normal”? Have you eaten and are full, and have forgotten the Lord?