Why Look Back?

"Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should." -Psalm 90:12 (TLB)

I have occasionally caught snatches of conversation that go something like this: "Why does he keep talking about the good old days? Times have changed. He'd better focus more on the future." The words are usually spoken by a younger person. I agree in part. A friend of mine recently said, "It is interesting that cars are made with a large windshield to see what is ahead and a small rearview mirror to see what is behind. However, it would be a big mistake not to have a rearview mirror."  While it is not good to live in the past, having a balanced attitude about aging means looking back and looking ahead.

Focus on the Family reported that in a national survey, seniors identified three things they would do differently if they had to live life over. First, they would take more risks. Second, they would reflect more. Third, they would do more things that make a difference in eternity. That, in a nutshell, is the essence of Significant Living.

Some counselors and life coaches recommend looking only forward, never looking back at the past. In reality, there is a proper balance between looking back and looking ahead, between taking risks and being safe, between handling the demands of our natural life, and focusing on the eternal.
Scripture is filled with examples where God instructed us to remember the past. Altars and memorials, stones of remembrance, were set up at numerous times and places to remind the Hebrew nation of God's faithfulness and blessing. Communion and baptism were instituted to help us remember and symbolize important spiritual truths.

 
In one example, God told Joshua to have the priests step into the Jordan River carrying the Ark of the Covenant. The waters parted, revealing dry land so the children of Israel could cross into the Promised Land. Then God told Joshua to have 12 men, one from each tribe, gather a stone from the middle of the Jordan and use the stones to build an altar. He said, "We will use them to build a monument so that in the future, your children will ask, ‘What is this monument for?' You can tell them, ‘It is to remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of God went across!'" (Joshua 4:6-8 TLB)

In the second half of life, it's a worthwhile endeavor to reflect, to look back, and to savor the faithfulness of God and His blessings. I want all of our grandchildren to know my legacy of faith-how God has been with me through good times and bad and how he has helped and directed me in all situations. They love for me to tell them stories of when I was young and of our family. It is a good opportunity to talk of the faithfulness of God.

But along with looking back, I know my grandchildren will be watching the evidence of God's faithfulness in my life. It is important for them to see me still active in working for God's Kingdom. I want them to see evidence in my life of trusting God. As the old song says, I want "all who follow to still find me faithful." So I intend to take time to look back because the blessings of the past can be foundations for the future. But I know that I can't rest on past achievement. I must keep moving forward to new adventures of the faith. It's all about balance-looking at the past and gaining from those experiences, but looking forward to all the opportunities and challenges in the future.