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F ³: The Secret Message

 


I walked in the room and noticed a napkin on the desk. I was just about to put it in the wastebasket. I stopped. Something about this particular napkin spoke to me.


It bore a message: REMEMBER.

Remember what?

It reminded me of the time I found that I had written a question mark on a particular day in my calendar but had no recollection of why. 




Why???

I never did figure it out.

If you found a message that merely said “remember” what would it bring to mind? This feels woefully open-ended to me.

The laundry? To buy milk? The phone bill?

On the other hand, wouldn’t it be a great clue in a murder mystery - - a puzzling piece of evidence that eventually became the key component in the solution. A slightly rumpled napkin, a smudge of chocolate, perhaps? Would they need to analyze the handwriting?

REMEMBER

Imagine our ill-fated victim becoming increasingly distressed as a series of napkins appear around his home bearing the ominous message…




Yes, I did eventually find out the significance of the message. I can’t tell you because it’s not my story to tell. I can tell you that it made complete sense and it wasn’t any of the possibilities I had imagined. An excellent reminder that when we find something we don’t understand it’s helpful to be more broadminded rather than less in seeking a solution.

Since I have you here I’ll share some of the thoughts that have been on my mind this week, inspired by this humble paper napkin.

REMEMBER:

  • If you carry water for a racist - - you’re a racist.
  • Even if you win the rat race, you’re still a rat.
  • Indifference is not neutral. It gives permission to whatever harm is already moving. Love interrupts.*
What are you trying to remember this week?




*Bernice A. King, on Be A King Instagram account:



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  1. Julia A. McCreadyJune 12, 2026 at 4:18 AM

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