When you sit in the driver’s seat of your vehicle, where do you look?
Most of us spend most of the time looking through the front windshield.
We were told in driver’s education to glance in our side and rear-view mirrors.
Think about the size of the front windshield.
It’s a large piece of glass – usually the largest in the vehicle.
Next, think of the rear-view mirror mounted on the front windshield. How does it compare with the windshield? (I’m not a math person, so I can’t give you a percentage. Feel free to leave your estimate in the comment section… ) I’m just going to generalize and say that the rear-view mirror is much smaller than the front windshield.
Why is the front windshield larger than the rear-view mirror?
Although it’s important to be aware of what’s happening behind and around us, most of our attention should be focused on where we’re going.
Look forward. Glance behind.
This is true in marriage, also. In your marriage, are you looking forward with a glance backward and sideways to orient yourself… or are you staring in the rear-view mirror with a sense of longing? Or maybe you’re staring because you don’t want to let go, move away and get past something.
Are you caught up – tangled – in the past?
OK. I gotta say it…
Let the past go. It’s done.
You can’t bring the good stuff back, any more than you can change the bad stuff.
Perhaps it’s time to just
… let it go.
Stop looking back.
How can you see the
good
God is going to do in your life
if you’re so busy looking backwards?
…what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and Godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
2Peter 3:11-12
Encouragement comes from hope – hope for the future. God is never done using us for His purpose. Ever.
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Well said, Lori! Advice we all need to hear from time to time. Thank you!
Oh, yes, Nicole – this post was for me too! Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
In my driver training class (age 16, before you and I met!), there was a guy who spent way too much time staring at the dashboard and review mirror. He just couldn’t stay focused on the road ahead. I was surprised he got his license. But I wasn’t surprised when I heard he was in an accident 6 months later.
In marriage too, there are those who struggle with staying focused on the road ahead. So it’s not surprising they get into ‘accidents.’ This is a good reminder for all of us to look up, look out, and look forward!
🙂 focusing forward! 🙂
This message seems to keep coming up in my windshield… Lord, help me get my eyes off the rear-view mirror, and look ahead where you’ve got me going!
But I still give You thanks that it gets easier day by day!
You’re right, Jason. Giving thanks is key – knowing that God can do what we, in our weaknesses, can’t. Thanks for chiming in!
Lori,
This is exactly what I’ve been hearing the Lord say to me for the past few months, but it’s much easier said than done.
Thank you for this timely reminder. It seems to be coming at me from all places, your blog included.
I appreciate you!
It’s good to share life with you too, Debi! And I’m with you. (right there, working to do and not just hear) –
It’s amazing how God works in our life. And how He keeps repeating a message or phrase or concept with such patience until we accept it. I’ve (finally) decided it’s time (7 years later) to stop looking back at TX with longing, and be thankful for where God has ‘planted’ me.
That is very true Lori- we oftentimes in our life as well focus too much on the past. Sometimes we also focus too much on the future and live in our heads. 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Nicole at Working Kansas Homemaker
Good insight, Nicole. Unless we’re taking action on the future we’re committed to, I see where ‘imagining’ the future can be as debilitating as constantly looking back. Thanks for sharing!
This is a subject that has been really close to my heart lately. Thank you for the reminder Lori, I will try to remember to keep myself focused on looking forward, not backward.
Thanks for commenting Debbie – It’s fascinating to see how God touches our hearts and lovingly wants us to pay attention to what He’s saying.
Yes. Perfect. How could you appreciate the blessing of today when you kept on looking back. Which the past can no longer be brought back.
So true. The past is gone, and the best we can do is remember the good stuff and learn from the bad. Thanks for commenting!
Lori,
Your point it so true, and I think you can apply it to areas of life besides marriage as well! I agree – I think God does want us to keep looking forward, pressing on towards the goal He has set before us.
Thanks!
Ann
Yes – it is applicable to many areas in life – and in relationships with other people our life touches. I think it touches on the concept of forgiveness too. Thanks for commenting!
Great advice, Lori. Look forward – glance behind. Thanks!
🙂 Always to happy to see your face and read your encouraging words, Bonnie!
Very inspiring post Lori.. Driving our life is like driving our car. We should know which way we should tackle and we should know what’s the right way to do while driving..
Thanks you for sharing this.