Snark & Sensibility

Photo provided by Unsplash

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.” Philippians 3:13-15

I have never been in the military, but I’ve seen enough TV shows to have absorbed some of their commands. One that I’ve seen should apply to those of us who have a few years behind us. It’s “Eyes Front, Soldier!”

It is usually used when someone is looking around behind them and not at the one in command. It’s an important command. It is not only a reminder of respect for authority, but it also is a reminder that victorious soldiers look forward more than they look backward.

Hanging out on Facebook, I run across a lot of mature adults who seem to be looking everywhere except forward. They post lists of things that were so “great” in the past. To hear them tell it crime didn’t exist, everyone loved each other, there were no problems, and we all lived in homes with white picket fences. We conveniently forget that people could be denied jobs because of the color of their skin, be paid less based on gender, and died of diseases like smallpox, scarlet fever, and polio.

Not only is Nostalgia, deceptive, it is also a seductive form of progressive paralysis if left unchecked.

Does that sound terrible? Well, it is terrible. But it’s terrible because it is accurate. Sure, it’s great to revisit those good memories of the past. I enjoy doing so. I put on some old music at times and remember when I was part of a group promoting Christian Rock Concerts in the 1970s during the Jesus Movement. Great memories. A wonderful time of learning about ministry, stepping out in faith, dealing with opposition from both without and within the Christian community. I can’t deny that.

However, that’s almost 50 years ago. The burning question, though, is what have I done today? Sometimes, we are so intent on looking backward, reliving the victories of the past, and complaining about how bad things are today, that we end up doing nothing of significance. We become soldiers trying to fight one battle while spending our time dreaming of past victories.

The problem is that yesterday’s manna is spoiled. A quick refresher. In the wilderness, God gave the Children of Isreal manna just laying on the ground for them to pick up and use in some way to feed themselves. However, the manna was only good for one day. They had to pick up more the next day.

You can’t live on yesterday’s victories. So, you think the world isn’t so good in one way as it was before? The question is “What are you doing to make it better?” Maybe you have health issues. So do I. But how much energy does it take to send someone a comforting email, post an inspirational message on Facebook, share a scripture quote meme on Instagram?

I remember my mother saying to me (and she was 70 at the time), “If I ever get to the point where most of my sentences begin with “Back in 1964...” tell me to stop being an old lady.” When she was in her 80s, she was almost totally blind, and confined to a bed or a wheelchair, and yet, she still ran the church prayer chain and counseled people on the phone up until she had a stroke and could no longer talk or hardly move. But If I know Mom, she was laying in bed praying for others in her spirit. I know she kept her “eyes front” until the day she reached the next stage of her journey. And I imagine when she saw Jesus, her words were, “So, what’s next?”

ABOUT TERRI MAIN

Terri Main has written professionally for almost 50 years. She has written poetry, devotions, short stories, Bible studies, novels, plays, video documentaries, magazine articles, and nonfiction books. Her business WordmasterMedia.Tech assists writers with digital publishing, marketing, social media, and web design. She is also a retired college professor. She is unmarried and lives with her three cats. “I am holding down a disappearing social icon – Retired Old Maid School Teach

Check out Terri’s Blogs

Terri's Sandbox Treasures 
Serious Analysis of societal trends, social issues, and my Fake Run for President in 2020
The Write Way
Hints and tips for writers and self-publishers
Inspiration On-Line
Daily Devotions that Challenge as well as Encourage. It Ain't Chicken Soup, Honey.

Link to Terri’s Amazon Page:https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ATerri+Main&s=relevancerank&text=Terri+Main&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1