I confess, I am tempted to look back at my old predictable life. The one where I know where I'm sleeping and waking every day. The one with space and separation. I see it dangling before my eyes like a shiny fruit decorated with comfort, control, and convenience. I see the people around the fruit offering gifts of friendship and affirmation.
The enemy of my soul has buffed out all the bruises from this fruit, making it irresistibly appetizing. He's done the work to filter and cover up the imperfections, making me yearn for a past that's anything but ideal.
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of the past." (Isaiah 43:18)
When we dwell on a past circumstance that has been optimized in our minds, we lose sight of both our present and the reality that the past had just as many blemishes as any other time in our lives.
When we romanticize a time or season, our expectations are sorely distorted-- there's nothing but melancholy aching for something that doesn't actually exist.
"Don't long for the old days" (Ecc. 7:10)
We need a set of reality glasses to see both the physical and spiritual world around us as they actually are. We can't see what God is doing now if we don't have accurate prescription.
"See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; don't you perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19)
Don't live in a past time that you've altered to perfection with filters. Live in the present knowing there's a greater future for he who lives by faith, not by sight, nor by memories. Continue on the hard path for a time, and it will produce an abundant life that no fading memory can compare with.
When our present feels less than joyful, we begin to wearily wander to a happier time to ease our present dissatisfaction. But rather than tarry in the dangerous waters of "old days," we should take our thoughts and emotions captive to a future hope that won't disappoint us.
If we were to achieve time-travel, and actually arrive at the dangling fruit from the past, we would be all but disappointed and dissatisfied all over again. The devil loves for us to vacillate between disappoints, but the Holy Spirit loves to bring us a joy in all circumstances. Our yearning is reserved for the next moment we get to be alone with God.
The "new things" God is doing are only seen after we faithfully walk through the wasteland with Him. Then we only remember His miracles performed in our lives--past, present, and future.
We had a blast with so many new friends! Detroit and Toronto filled us with new, fond memories!
~Carefully and Carelessly Nostalgic
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