Importance: 10%
The Big Idea
I had no idea that memory and memorization could be as varied and useful as it is. Rote memory is only one form of memory. Here are some of my notes about what I have learned so far.
Similar Notes: Why Learn Storytelling Memorizing the Psalms
My Journey in Memorization
Was obsessed in high school with stripping things down to what was necessary or meaningful and getting rid of the rest. I hated small talk because it felt so shallow and meaningless. But realized that when you only communicate in bullet points things become equally meaningless. You can get the fact of something across but you can’t get the force, beauty, and emotion across without story.
Truth and story go together
Memory ends up being the things we allow to live inside us
Rote Memorization
Whenever you hear the phrase: “You need to memorize this” you are probably shuttering and thinking about memorizing multiplication tables, or morphology charts, or element charts, or formulas, etc.
This kind of memorization also often gets applied to learning Bible versus as well. A parent, teacher or Pastor is usually the one who hands you some kind of sheet or slip (or even makes you write it down yourself) in order to commit the whole thing to memory word for word. When you can finally recite the whole thing without mistakes it is usually deemed to be “memorized.”
The goal of this kind of memory is to regurgitate word for word the thing being memorized with particular care being taken for exact accuracy.
Functional Memorization
A method that I have practiced when delivering sermons is the shift away from rote memorization. Trying to memorize word for word ten to fifteen minutes of content every single week is a huge amount of work for not a great return. Delivery is always halting or can easily go off track because what is actually committed to memory are the specific words written on the page. In essences, the sermon becomes a verbal regurgitation of a written essay.
Functional memorization takes a more dynamic approach to things. Rather than trying to commit all those specific words to memory. Functional memorization seeks to memorize the key themes, phrases, and stories that “make the sermon go.” Just like in a normal conversation. We do not enter every conversation with a whole script but as we talk our memory works to recall and piece together the things we say as we go.
Functional memorization gives some structure to that normal process. What this looks like practically for me is to write out the main points of a sermon in a brief paragraph form making sure to highlight reference to scripture, stories or other illustrations that go with a point. What this allows me to do is be more freed up to actually talk naturally. I know my points and where I am going so I don’t just talk in circles but I am also able to be reactive the to room I am in. If something happens I can respond to it normally rather than my fragile memorization getting shattered.
One word of caution with this kind of memorization is that you actually have to be living with and in the texts and things you want to share. Otherwise you will deliver a short bullet point and have nothing else to say or expand on. But if while preaching another bible verse or story comes to mind why not just add it in there.
As long as I am regularly reading my bible, practicing stories and normally thinking about faith and theology this kind of memorization has helped to make it possible for me to preach without hardly ever having to look down at notes or need to type out whole manuscripts or totally memorize things word for word.
Mind Map Memorization
Memorization for Inner Sight
what do you see when you close your eyes?
the idea that you can tell a story based on imagining and seeing it in your mind as you speak
very different from trying to deal in disparate lines or text or facts that are in memory
Describe the room you are in right now as you see it and look around it. This is your normal sight and you can connect it to your speaking if you want.
shut your eyes and do it again but describe the room from your memory. this is what we are talking about
outline the key pieces of things or parts of a story or idea
what is the rhythm of the things that keeps it moving?
can think of the seed of a story. that is the moral point or lesson, the surprise, the turning point or general “payoff” when you hear the story. that Aha moment. In other words the think that makes the story worth telling.