Dancin' in September

The ironic thing about the Earth, Wind, and Fire song "September," which asks us "do you remember, the 21st night of September," is that there isn't clarity among the band about what happened on this significant evening. While some reports say it was just rhythmically the right vibes, there is also another story reported.

The song was written by the band’s vocalist, Maurice White and songwriter Allee Willis. According to the Consequence of Sound, "Willis recalls being recognized in a restaurant while dining with Marilyn White, and a fan asked the significance of the date. In 2018, she recounted the conversation to the Wall Street Journal: “I told him what I had been saying for 40 years: ‘There is no significance. That date just sang the best.’ Marilyn stopped me. She said, ‘Are you kidding? The 21st was the day that our son, Kahbran, was supposed to be born.' Willis continues, 'Maurice never told me that. For decades, I had been disappointing people whose birthdays or weddings were on the 21st of September. Now they know.'"

This is hysterical to me. "September" asks us to recall something even those involved with the song didn't have clarity about.

It reminds me of the tale of the family that always cut both ends off the roast before putting it in the pan. They'd been doing so for years. At one point a guest inquired about this process, and the chef of the day explained it was the way grandma always made it. Then they started to get curious. It turns out that grandma did it this way because she didn't have a pan large enough for most roasts.

In other words, sometimes we need to ask a few more questions about our memories. I remember when our house burned down when I was four years old - but I didn't remember anything else about it until I sat down with my mom and asked after my son Taylor was born. It had a whole different point of view after that, for so many reasons.

Think about how you think...

You probably don't remember what you wore to work last Tuesday - but you remember the way the kitchen smells when your favorite cookies are in the oven.

You probably don't remember some random sermon, but you do remember the person who told you - and showed you - that God loved you just as you are - fully and wholly.

Memory doesn't simply preserve information - it helps us know what we value.

Spend a little time over the next few days exploring some of your most vibrant or painful memories. Let them teach you about who you are - and what you love - and where you are needed in this crazy, lovely world.

And by all means, I hope those memories find you lighter, freer, and able to dance through the remaining days of September.