Things I Read, Watch, and Carry with Me

When it comes to watching movies, reading books, or writing, I’ve learned a lot about how I process these stories. I love to read and write, especially developing a story and picturing it as I go. When I read, I try to do the same kind of visualization, but it’s harder for me to remember the details once time passes. Movies, on the other hand, stay with me much more clearly—even after just one viewing.

The same is true with the Bible. The more I read it, the more I want it to stick, but just like in school, I’ve had to figure out what works best for me when it comes to remembering. Recently, after watching the animated movie David, it was incredibly helpful to see his story play out on the screen. It allowed me to picture it clearly and when I went back to reading, I could even start to remember details on my own. Reflecting on this, I realized it was the same with the stories of Joseph in Joseph King of Dreams and Moses in The Prince of Egypt. Even something like VeggieTales, something I watched all the time as a kid, telling the story of Jonah and the whale helped make it stick to me as a child.

(And yes, these are all animated films, I enjoy animated just like any but there are several aside from these!)

These are stories I’ve heard and read many times, but once I see them brought to life, they stay with me in a deeper way—and I’m not afraid to admit that. I used to feel bad that I couldn’t remember everything, but I’ve learned that I just needed to find my own way of learning, applying, and remembering and there is nothing wrong with that.

Tell us, what helps you remember something important and something you would really like to remember?