Learn from past but focus on future
“Life can only be understood backwards,
but it must be lived forwards.”…Soren Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and religious author, and is generally considered to have been the first existentialist philosopher. He proposed that each individual—not society or religion—is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living it passionately and sincerely, or “authentically.” (Wikipedia) Mr. Kierkegaard lived only 42 years but thought deeply, wrote poignantly, and argued fiercely in many arenas of life during that short life time. He had a Journal of his thoughts published that was 7,000 pages in length…guess you could do that without TV, radio and movies, eh?
As profound and truthful as Soren’s thought is this morning, I prefer the version of a “famed” American philosopher that we all knew and loved Yogi Berra. Yogi said: “If you don’t know where you are going you will end up someplace else.” I read just the other an author that said “if you want to be disappointed with your future then don’t think about it!!”
All of us can look at our current circumstance(s) and then look back a week or two, or a month or so or perhaps even a year or so and realize that the universal law of “seed time and harvest” is simply producing its fruit. Yes, that is looking backwards and understanding life; however the more profound part of our thought today is the living life forward. Living life forward takes three simply steps:
- Keep in mind that the principle of “seed time and harvest” is a “concrete” law of the universe and cannot be thwarted. More times than not the seed planted comes from our mouths in an errant, hateful or careless word spoken. Antidote = Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
- Take notes and learn from our past hiccups, failures and VICTORIES…all of us have heard the old axiom “experience is the best teacher”; however, we should hasten to say that that personal experience also carries the “highest tuition” bill as well. Commitment to make: Vow not to fall prey to the adage “all we learn from History (our past) is that we do not learn from history.”
- Have a vision, a plan, a goal…always be moving toward something…fully invest yourself I your LIFE…make sure the race you are running is your RACE not someone else’s. Encouraging thought = Proverbs 29:18 “Without a vision the people perish…”
As you begin this week it is paramount to remember that we are to learn from our past and understand from our past….but we are never, never, never to LIVE in our past. The “shoulda”, “woulda” and “couldas” of life tend to seduce, stifle and stymie our lives…they never give us good fodder for thought nor do they fertilize the soul for success.
Make this a week of LIVING IN THE NOW WITH A VISION FOR TOMORROW…PLANTING SEEDS THAT LEAD TO AVICTORY HARVEST…Go forth and prosper….Have a great week!!!
