Yesterday’s Gone, Yesterday’s Gone
For good or for ill, the past is the past. “The moving finger writes and, having writ, moves on.” A great many people are mired in the failures and losses of the past. There may be some good in keeping a living memory of lessons learned, but there is little value in an open wound. We cannot change the past. On the other hand, there appears to be no statute of limitations on former success. I don’t begrudge anyone their pleasant memories, but sometimes I wish I didn’t have to hear about them.
The trophies of yesterday become the baggage of today. What we won in a former time may not mean much now that the game has changed. I am thankful for glad thoughts of days gone by, but the relics of those times are about as useful to me today as John Brown’s body. Just as the bad days passed, the good days passed. If I can be mired in the despair of failure, I can be continually enamored by having “gone to state.” I have no choice but to live today, regardless of what memory may hold.
The tragedy of living in the past is that it prevents us from living today and planning for tomorrow. It may be a mental game since it is easy for one who has experienced much discouragement to think that they deserve no more and can expect no more. There is not much impetus for change if things are set in stone. But today will be the past tomorrow. We are making memories as we go, and others are relying on us. There must be a point at which we can lay the heavy burdens of yesterday down.
Regret haunts the mind. Success roots us to a time and place. Both must be laid aside as we journey through life. The Scripture reminds us to meet the challenges of today- neither borrowing trouble nor lagging behind on the road of remembrance. We’ve got to keep on going. There are challenges to face along with troubles unseen and joys unexpressed. The past is a tool for learning- nothing more. Paul said he laid aside the guilt of his past and the glory of his career to know and be known by Christ.
Think about tomorrow and what may be rather than yesterday and what was. This moment will join the annals of history as wasted time if we fail to do so. Time is running out for all of us. We cannot recall one instant of the past. Tomorrow may be a brighter day if we make some changes. God can help us, and we can help each other. Everyone I know has experiences they’d like to replicate and those they’d like to replace. Wring every drop of life from this moment. Take hold of the now, and drive it like you stole it.
Sterl
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