Looking Back, Looking Forward

Facebook can have a tendency to encourage one to look back to the past. We reconnect with “old friends” that we haven’t seen in years. We reminisce about old times and things we did together when we were younger. Sometimes this can be good. And I have been doing a bit of that lately. But then I realized I was focusing too much on the past, and sometimes, for me, remembering and thinking about the past makes me feel sad. As hard as I try, I can’t seem to keep my eye on the good things, at least not when I look back. I have too many things I regret, and I have no power to go back and change them.

But when I look forward, I feel happy, full of joy! When I look forward, I have hope for better things. I have the power to do the right thing when the opportunity for choice presents itself. The future if full of infinite possibilities, plans to spend time with friends and family, and chances to improve myself and grow in my faith. I cannot change the past, but I can shape the future by how I live today.

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13:14.