What do these have in common? Cabbage Patch dolls, Pound Puppies, Care Bears, Nancy Drew, DC Talk (old school), NKOTB (sorry dad, had to throw that one in there), and family vacations to places such as Hershey, Gettysburg, and we can't forget Washington or Iowa :)... For me- they are all parts of my past. Earlier this week I was having a blast of nostalgia- I found some things that led to looking at Youtube videos of old school DC Talk and Geoff Moore. It really took me back to a time when things were much simpler. When I look up nostalgia (online because who really uses a paper dictionary anymore?) this is what I find: Nostalgia
: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition
Looking back can be a good thing but it also can be something that destroys us (look at what happened to Lot's wife when she physically looked back). It is a time that can help us trace God's hand in our lives- a time that helped build our characters- a time that shows us who really matters in our lives and who our true friends are. However, too often we dwell on the past and let it take hold of us in ways that we can't even fully understand. It can affect our present and our future in negative ways- IF we let it.
The important thing to remember is that we can't go forward if we are looking behind us. Paul addresses it in Philippians 3:12-14: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
Embrace the past- it's over and can't be changed- but RUN toward the future with hands wide open to grab onto the teachings place in front of us and a heart that uses the wisdom gained!
: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition
2 comments:
I had this gag reflex over the mention of those initials, but if you notice in my one post when I used initials to describe this current generation I slipped a little. :) Man, do I remember all those places, and time. I can remember taking you & Janna to DC Talk concerts. how can we forget the trip west...over 5000 miles, 2 ballgames, a hibernating sister, Field of Dreams, etc all in two weeks! But nostalgia is good if it leads us to future challenges. I'm just glad they were good memories. well done oldest daughter. love you and see you soon.
I saw that- that's why I had to throw it in there :) They were good memories- love you too
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