I like history and think we can and should learn from it…
But…
I want my best energy focused on where I’m going, not where I’ve been…
On things I can change, not on things I can’t…
Towards issues of faith, more than issues that have been forgiven…
On the tree I’m planting more than the one that fell…
Building new dreams more than dwelling on regrets…
What about you?
Are you spending more time dwelling on the past or working towards a brighter future?
Be honest.
I think we should learn from history and don't spend to much time dwelling of it .
Thanks.
Great thoughts Ron! A much needed reminder this morning. As we wake up everyday, faith is the ingrideint that which keep me hanging on in the race. Hoping for a bright future, I keep toeing my boat everyday. (But, to be frank, I also ponder over my past and reflect on my failures at times. I could not avoid it altogether. )
I want to be more like Paul, “forgetting what is behind, I press on…”
Twitter: bryankr
says:
I am an avid student of History, so when you said “but…” I started to worry, then I read the post! I agree you should not dwell on your own past, but I have found that certain instances in my past have helped me better understand how to deal with present circumstances. I am not one to just stay in that past thought, and then get lost in it, but I have been able to see God’s hand in using them for learning.
I love history too Bryan!
Twitter: KariScare
says:
I tell my boys to learn from the past and then move on. Dwelling on it does no good, but it is a good teacher if we learn from it.
it depends on what history, and what you are trying to do. I look at history with intentionally, not to dwell on it but what can I apply to the situation I am in or what could unfold. It is not dwelling on my past. Tom Rath in his book Strengths Finder refers to this as contextual. It is in fact one of my strengths. I read my Bible and pray, seeking its wisdom. When I look at "history" to do not pray about it but I am seeking wisdom.
I think the question to ask is are you getting yourself stuck, by dwelling on "your" past, is it pro-longed fantasy, that is unhealthy and a chasing your shadow exercise. But if you are seeking wisdom from history, not just playing back your on life's video, but studying others, then you can move to a better place.
Respectfully
Walter Petticrew
Good thoughts. Thanks.
As far history is concerned anyone who throws the bible out as just a fairy tale and does not believe to me is throwing out all history. like we never had a revolutionary war or anything else in our country's past. We can not throw out history without closing our eyes to the present and the future. We see from biblical history what happens when we throw out God and the examples he set for us to learn from. Jesus is all about using His word to propel us forward. We cannot dwell on our past. We need to look at the promises through out the bible to motivate us forward.
Amen. I like that take. We press on towards the goal!
The past experiences that we had will serve as a reminder and lesson to us. However, we should also be thinking of the now and the future. this is really is a good insight. Baby Eagle
Amen. Thank you
I actually have a few thoughts on this, but, perhaps, from a less spiritual point of view. I actually put my comment in a blog post. http://www.noelbagwell.com/blog/?p=3960
Awesome.
Amen
Sometimes it's too tempting to dwell on the past, but we can't afford to always give in to the temptation if we don't want to waste time. Thanks for this great post!
Agreed.
We need to learn from the past without dwelling on it. It seems often that I have to take my eyes off some past or present disappointment and focus them on where I'm going.
But do you think that we can get too fixated on the future also?
Yea. That's a good thought.
"Are you spending more time dwelling on the past or working towards a brighter future?" Great question. Been praying Job 42:12 for my life a lot lately: "The LORD blessed the later part of Job's life more than the former part." And I believe that will happen. Just don't know how yet. But I'm anticipating it.
I love studying Job.
Well said. People who focus too much on the past become somewhat reactionary. When life develops from a reactionary basis, we improve on the past, but not much because we are mostly focused on avoiding something. For Christians, it is better to focus on the word of God so that we can respond to the present from that basis and live thoughtfully.