Past. Present. Future.

Where do you hang out mostly? It’s natural to fluctuate between the three spaces of time. We learn from our past and use it to face what’s before us. What did we do in this situation before? Did it work? Can I use those skills or steps again? We plan for our future financially or for life events like the birth of a child or a vacation, or maybe retirement. We sit in a moment, focused on the conversation to show respect and love.

A friend shared a short reel with me about Lot’s wife in the Bible. During end times discussion, Jesus asks his listeners to “remember Lot’s wife.” When told not to look back at the burning fire, she couldn’t help herself. She looked back and became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19).

The speaker goes on to share the root meaning of “look back”–desiring or longing for the past, to be attached to the past.

So much has happened in our lives. In the darkest of nights, I look back. I desire to go back and fix and change things. When I do this, I, too, become “calcified” and “stuck” like Lot’s wife.

Philippians 3:13 “My friends, I don’t feel I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind me, and I struggle for what is ahead.”

One thing I’ve learned that has brought freedom is the ability to coexist with my thoughts and feelings while also moving forward. It’s the serenity prayer. I found this version from Reinhold Niebuhr.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference, living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, taking this world as it is and not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.     
− Reinhold Niebuhr

How can we move forward? You can practice OCHO–“overcoming by going around.” If you face a huge barrier that can’t be fixed, go around it. Trust God to handle it.

I can be so fixated on the barrier that I don’t enjoy the present. Go around it. This reminds me of a story from a message I heard during a retreat about 10 years ago. She gave an example of how we are quick to run out to the store to buy one ingredient missing in our recipe when perhaps the miracle of using the resources in front of you would cook an amazing meal.

May you find peace today with the resources you have. Don’t look back.