Forgetting

If you ever come to this cloud to live and work in it, this is what you must do: just as the 'cloud of unknowing' is above you, between you and God, so you must put a 'cloud of forgetting' below you, between you and all creation. Perhaps you think that you will be far away from God, with this cloud between you, but surely it follows that you are further away than ever if there is no cloud of forgetting between you and 'all creatures'? By 'all creatures' I mean not only the creatures themselves but everything connected with them, including physical and spiritual beings, irrespective of their state or of how good or evil they are. Everything, without exception, must be removed, hidden under the cloud of forgetting.

At other times it may well be valuable to think of certain people - who they are and what they do - but in this case it is of little value, if any. For calling to mind an individual affects the spirit. Your soul's eye focuses on him just as a marksman fixes his eyes on his target. I can tell you that everything you thus engage your mind in comes between you and God, with the result that you become further away from him. Nothing but God must fill your mind.

In fact, if I may say so with all due reverence, when we are doing this work it is of little value even to dwell on God's kindness or worthiness, or on Mary, the saints or angels, or on the joys of heaven itself. It is no use thinking that such meditation will strengthen your purpose. I can tell you that it will not help one whit. For although it may usually be good to think of God's kindness and to love him and praise him for it, it is far better to contemplate God as he is, and to love him and praise him for himself alone.

The Cloud of Unknowing, pp.28-29

Not sure if all this is true. I'm sure it sometimes helps to let go of some things that keep filling our minds and don't let us enjoy life. I can't help but think of Alexander Pope's poem (Eloisa to Abelard):

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd

But I also know that if it wasn't for being able to remember, I would probably make the same mistakes again and again. I wouldn't grow, my constant change would not imply growing and learning but rather random move without any purpose nor meaning. Remembering is part of my humanity; perhaps it's even what makes me human. And surely that's how God would want me to relate to him, as a human.