While speaking with a friend last night, I commented in agreement that I would give my right arm to go back in time to 2007, which I believe was the best year of my life.
As soon as I said that, however, I began to think about the implications. When we get hurt, we automatically want to withdraw back into a crevice of time past when everything was ok. When we were safe and snug in the ignorance of things to come. When we were comfortable, content, and compliant.
The future is not so forgiving. We don't know what is to come. While that may not concern us in the pleasant times, it causes deep furrows on the brow of present strife. Unwanting to face the future, we choose to reside in the past. To retreat. To escape. To hide. And if Earth was all there was to look forward to, who could blame the aching heart that put and end to its pain by stealing its own beating?
But thank God, we know there is more to come. While we may see only the fog ahead in the Earth's orbit, we can know that beyond the fog there is no more pain or division or death. Knowing that, how can we desire to live in the past? It would never lead us to that glorious future. Paul writes in Philippians 3:13, "Brothers and sisters, I am not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."
Hearts may be broken and dreams may be crushed, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes you may have to crawl forward. But never stop, never try to go back. The past is frozen as ice and the future is rushing toward us like a current.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans to prosper and give you hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11)
A future.
So don't look back. What's done is done. So you're broken and bleeding. Wounds heal over time. Always keep putting that foot forward and racing to the goal. The best is yet to come.
Besides... If you give your right arm to return to the past, what left will you have to give when you return to the present?
About Me
- Steph Ferguson
- I am a political science major at Sam Houston state with a passion for music, writing, and witty sarcasm.
Just Remember...
Mai Loyl Fanz
3 comments:
Good point. And even if we repeated the best days of our lives for eternity, we'd probably get sick of it. The best day of your life/year/whatever is usually so because of something unexpected, so to repeat it would cheat us of the unexpected joys of the day.
So, here is to unexpected future joys.
This is a lovely devotional in this time of economic crises. The lives of SO many people have completely imploded. People are scrambling and panicked. I heard on the news that more than half of Americans are suffering from anxiety-related insomnia now, can you believe it? It's natural to look back to the "good old days," but I think your advice to crawl forward is beautiful.
Nice Blog. Congrats.
{ Treasurer-T & S }
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