Remembering, But Not Staying

"But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead..."   ... Philippians 3:13

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So in my kitchen this morning the radio played, Sunshine on my Shoulders and wow, instantly I was teleported into the back of an open pick-up truck with 15 other teens from my church youth group in 1975.

That always happens when I hear that song.

The sun gleams upon the snow beside the road as we all sing loudly with wind blowing our hair, not feeling the cold because of our coats and because of being in our early teens and silly with no real cares, only giddiness while singing, "Sunshine almost all the time makes me high."

Oh, where a radio song can take you ...!

They celebrated my birthday that weekend in the big cabin we all shared and no girl ever had a better 16th birthday, I'm certain.

But hey. I only stay there long enough to search each happy face in the back of that truck and to smile at the funniest parts of my cabin-in-the-snow birthday party. And then I come back home. 

I belong here now and when you stay too long at those yesterday places, they go all hazy with a golden light which did not really exist, a light that pushes away the forgotten negative parts which co-existed with reality. And then it looks too good, too bright--and not real.

And I prefer the real of my Today.  'Now faith is' and I know God wants me to stay in Today and not wish for even my 2 or 10 or 20 years ago, either. He can bless me here, change and strengthen me and love me into wholeness.

But He cannot do that if I spend my weeks and years in Yesterday. Yesterday is not real and can't even be recalled correctly. It's gone.

(This post is dedicated to Cheryl, Linda and Fawn who read my blog and who were all in the back of that pick-up truck on that happy day.)

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"Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this."   ... Ecclesiastes 7:10


“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."   ... Isaiah 43:18,19


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Free kindle books as of today, June 17th:


Once I Was a Teenager

Georgia on Her Mind

Signs, Wonders and a Baptist Preacher

Real Clever Ideas and Solutions


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When Tom and I finished all the Alias shows, I felt sad that it was over, but now the often-similar Covert Affairs (with shades of Nancy Drew in them) has filled that void. We are up to the 3rd season and we both love this show!

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Here's the Roman Meal coupon which I usually wait for every year, but this time I'll not be using it because we promised Naomi we'd try to avoid wheat. :)  

But if you've not promised anybody anything, here you go. (You can print two.)