Memories can sometimes be more powerful than expected. If you are wondering what I mean think of how many people are driven by the past and refuse to live in the present. Think back to that old high school buddy or friend from the past that you no longer connect with. You occasionally try to hang out with them, but all they can talk about was back in the day when they scored a touchdown during the homecoming game or the time when they were crowned prom King/Queen. Don’t get me wrong, memories are great but how can you grow when failing to let the past go. Too often people live in the past and frequently forget the power of the moment. With each moment comes the potential of living life to the fullest, and reaching for every dream.
If you think about it, present day reality can be a bit overwhelming for those afraid to face it. In no way I am trying to act as though I have it all figured out because I am positive I don’t. As much as I pride myself in growth, development and progress there are brief moments when I fall victim to living in the past. The past can be very powerful and sometimes devastating if we refuse to let it go. As much as I would love to say I have learned from all my past mistakes I am not at that point (I’m not sure if I will ever be) There have been times when I went back and did things that I was so sure that I would never do again. It definitely was the nostalgia. Nos·tal·gi·a pronounced -nŏ-stăl'jə, nə- which Webster’s dictionary defines as: A wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days. Old memories can feel really good but you must know how to separate the past from the present. The failure to move forward can prevent us from capturing the gifts and blessings in front of us.
I believe that I had to write about this in order to move into a new stage in my life. The only way that I can move on from certain situations is to really take a step back, evaluate and identify the things that keep me bound. Although this is often a painful process it feels better in the long run. It is similar to getting pesky wisdom teeth pulled, it really hurts afterwards but a few days later relief sets in and you end up feeling better than before they were pulled.
Seeing the big picture is extremely important. I must continually remind myself of this fact because many times I have been pulled in by nostalgia. The problem with that is that it never lasts. Just think of how good it smells walking past a bakery. Just in one instant the warm smell arouses many memories that are better in our minds than the actual experience ever was. Before we know it we turn around enter the bakery and eat a piece of cake when we don’t want the extra calories. Before we know it the cake is gone and the experience is over. So we sit and say to ourselves “was the cake worth it? The moment was so brief and it didn’t taste, as nearly as good as it smelled. I was sure it would be better than that.”
One of my nostalgic experiences can often be traced back to an old friend. When I think back I remember how our friendship stopped growing. Back and forth time and time again and we failed to address this because of our history. We would the separate and reunite. The initial meeting after being apart was wonderful but after a few days (in some cases hours) the fizzle would fade. All the smoke would clear and I was again back into a situation that I promised myself I would not get into again. I got so caught up with the good memories I failed to think of the reasons we grew apart in the first place. I was driven by the good times and the hopes of what might have been at one time or another. Later I finally realized the only thing we really had between us was all those years. History and memories alone is not the foundation for a fruitful friendship. For me it was a friendship but this is not always the case for everyone. It can be people, places; things that we just know are not good for us.
It is good for us to rejoice in the fact that we have grown and some things from the past should stay in the past. We must learn how to let go of things good and bad. Letting go, letting God…hmmm that sounds familiar. I have heard this phrase time and time again but the application of this in life is at times challenging. Although submission to God is not easy I have realized it is necessary for completeness. As time passes it becomes clearer in my mind that I am not in control. I have to let go of the reigns. We must remember if we are submitted to the Father he brings fourth people, things and events in our lives to accommodate were we are going. I have heard many ministers talk about how God begins with the ending in mind. The more time passes the more this statement becomes alive in my life. It is one thing to hear the Word but when it becomes alive in your life it is truly amazing. God desires that we continue to develop all areas of our lives. He desires for us to be balanced and display our true character. In order for us to fulfill our purpose here on earth we must welcome change. We must be open to what is in front of us. How can God hand us our blessing if our hand is already full?
2 Corinthians 5:17:17Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
If you think about it, present day reality can be a bit overwhelming for those afraid to face it. In no way I am trying to act as though I have it all figured out because I am positive I don’t. As much as I pride myself in growth, development and progress there are brief moments when I fall victim to living in the past. The past can be very powerful and sometimes devastating if we refuse to let it go. As much as I would love to say I have learned from all my past mistakes I am not at that point (I’m not sure if I will ever be) There have been times when I went back and did things that I was so sure that I would never do again. It definitely was the nostalgia. Nos·tal·gi·a pronounced -nŏ-stăl'jə, nə- which Webster’s dictionary defines as: A wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days. Old memories can feel really good but you must know how to separate the past from the present. The failure to move forward can prevent us from capturing the gifts and blessings in front of us.
I believe that I had to write about this in order to move into a new stage in my life. The only way that I can move on from certain situations is to really take a step back, evaluate and identify the things that keep me bound. Although this is often a painful process it feels better in the long run. It is similar to getting pesky wisdom teeth pulled, it really hurts afterwards but a few days later relief sets in and you end up feeling better than before they were pulled.
Seeing the big picture is extremely important. I must continually remind myself of this fact because many times I have been pulled in by nostalgia. The problem with that is that it never lasts. Just think of how good it smells walking past a bakery. Just in one instant the warm smell arouses many memories that are better in our minds than the actual experience ever was. Before we know it we turn around enter the bakery and eat a piece of cake when we don’t want the extra calories. Before we know it the cake is gone and the experience is over. So we sit and say to ourselves “was the cake worth it? The moment was so brief and it didn’t taste, as nearly as good as it smelled. I was sure it would be better than that.”
One of my nostalgic experiences can often be traced back to an old friend. When I think back I remember how our friendship stopped growing. Back and forth time and time again and we failed to address this because of our history. We would the separate and reunite. The initial meeting after being apart was wonderful but after a few days (in some cases hours) the fizzle would fade. All the smoke would clear and I was again back into a situation that I promised myself I would not get into again. I got so caught up with the good memories I failed to think of the reasons we grew apart in the first place. I was driven by the good times and the hopes of what might have been at one time or another. Later I finally realized the only thing we really had between us was all those years. History and memories alone is not the foundation for a fruitful friendship. For me it was a friendship but this is not always the case for everyone. It can be people, places; things that we just know are not good for us.
It is good for us to rejoice in the fact that we have grown and some things from the past should stay in the past. We must learn how to let go of things good and bad. Letting go, letting God…hmmm that sounds familiar. I have heard this phrase time and time again but the application of this in life is at times challenging. Although submission to God is not easy I have realized it is necessary for completeness. As time passes it becomes clearer in my mind that I am not in control. I have to let go of the reigns. We must remember if we are submitted to the Father he brings fourth people, things and events in our lives to accommodate were we are going. I have heard many ministers talk about how God begins with the ending in mind. The more time passes the more this statement becomes alive in my life. It is one thing to hear the Word but when it becomes alive in your life it is truly amazing. God desires that we continue to develop all areas of our lives. He desires for us to be balanced and display our true character. In order for us to fulfill our purpose here on earth we must welcome change. We must be open to what is in front of us. How can God hand us our blessing if our hand is already full?
2 Corinthians 5:17:17Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
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