MOVING FORWARD
Sometimes it feels pretty tough to move forward when the past, even yesterday's past, calls to you. Memory is a great and necessary thing because it gives us points of reference; but it can fool you at times because we tend to overplay the good or the bad when we need to recognize both exist. Memory can trap you and keep you from moving forward. A desire to want things back the way they were will keep you from finding out what is ahead with any great speed.
Lot's wife in the Bible turned to a pillar of salt when she looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah. I don't know what a pillar of salt meant but the feeling is, that this was not a good thing.
Perhaps memory of all that has been is a "necessary evil" but we can't let it influence us to keep grudges or let it act as our guideposts for the future because the future may not be based on any of our past experiences. If we let our memory keep us desiring to live a past chapter in our lives when it no longer exists, then we get stuck there and make no progress. Like beating a dead horse, we aren't going to get that horse to move.
Some of my memories give me great cheer and encouragement and are loving, happy ones. These often bring a smile to my face, make me feel good about myself, and catapult me into a good, positive and fruitful frame of mind. Some memories bring tears. Some bring sadness, sorrow, regret, anger, hurt or fear. These may need to be acknowledged and felt but they can send me into a negative and unproductive frame of mind if I entertain them for very long. Memories of any kind can serve us or hinder us.
As I reflect this morning, I am reminded that focusing on what was will not move me forward. I must begin to focus on what I want to come so that I am less resistant and more poised to receive the gifts at hand.
It isn't easy but it is doable.
Lot's wife in the Bible turned to a pillar of salt when she looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah. I don't know what a pillar of salt meant but the feeling is, that this was not a good thing.
Perhaps memory of all that has been is a "necessary evil" but we can't let it influence us to keep grudges or let it act as our guideposts for the future because the future may not be based on any of our past experiences. If we let our memory keep us desiring to live a past chapter in our lives when it no longer exists, then we get stuck there and make no progress. Like beating a dead horse, we aren't going to get that horse to move.
Some of my memories give me great cheer and encouragement and are loving, happy ones. These often bring a smile to my face, make me feel good about myself, and catapult me into a good, positive and fruitful frame of mind. Some memories bring tears. Some bring sadness, sorrow, regret, anger, hurt or fear. These may need to be acknowledged and felt but they can send me into a negative and unproductive frame of mind if I entertain them for very long. Memories of any kind can serve us or hinder us.
As I reflect this morning, I am reminded that focusing on what was will not move me forward. I must begin to focus on what I want to come so that I am less resistant and more poised to receive the gifts at hand.
It isn't easy but it is doable.
posted by Brendisima | 5:25 AM
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