This week, I had surgery, something I have been putting off for too long.
Over the years, as I tried to decide to have this surgery, people told me, “You’ll know when it’s time,” and they were right. When you reach the point where pain and limited mobility cause you to feel like an old person, it’s time.
During the next few weeks, I’ll be recovering, and away from my computer, so I’m reposting enhanced versions of some of my favorite writings from the early days of Forward Motion. Hope you enjoy!
As I walked across a parking lot, I saw a man I know sitting in a car with the windows down. I waved, but he didn’t respond. Then I realized he was looking in his car’s rearview mirror, watching people behind him on the far side of the parking lot.
I spoke to him as I passed, teasing him about looking at life backwards. We laughed, but as I got in my car, I thought about how many people live their lives looking back, wishing for what was, or regretting what could have been.
However, the problem with looking back is you lose sight of what’s ahead. When your focus is behind, you’re likely to make a misstep or remain frozen in your current location or situation.
The problem with looking back is you lose sight of what's ahead. Share on X” via=”CandyArrington”]
A Backwards View
Genesis provides an example of a backward-looker. Identified only as Lot’s wife, this woman couldn’t resist one last glance at her former life. Although she was warned of the danger, the temptation for one last backwards peek was stronger than the wisdom to move forward. That stolen glance resulted in death.
While having a rearview focus on life doesn’t necessarily cause physical death, it can cripple emotionally and spiritually, causing you to stagnate in grief, regret, fear, anger, unforgiveness, or precipitate a return to habits or thought patterns that hold you captive.
Backwards Thinking
Thinking backwards holds you captive to the past. Backwards thinking reminds you of mistakes and shackles you to regret and guilt. Thinking backwards holds you in suspended animation and prevents you from making headway with forward motion.
We’ve all made decisions we wish we hadn’t, said things we wish we could unsay, and done things we wish we could undo, but don’t allow ruminating on the past to rob you of the present and future.
Thinking backwards holds you in suspended animation and prevents you from making headway with forward motion. Share on X” username=”CandyArrington”]
Distortion
What we see in a rearview mirror is distorted. Some rearview mirrors show the warning “objects may be closer than they appear.” Rearview mirrors are also notorious for having “blind spots.”
Once, I almost pulled out in front of a police car because I didn’t see it in my rearview mirror. Thankfully, the officer was nice enough to give a quick toot of his horn to move me back over into my lane.
Looking at life from a rearview perspective is not without distortion. A past event you continue to ruminate on becomes bigger in your backward-looking vision, distorting it into something much worse than it really was.
Take steps to deflate rearview distortion. This may require forgiving someone, letting go of guilt and regret, or making yourself look at the event with a less self-absorbed focus. Often, we allow elements from the past to bloom out of proportion and overshadow reality.
The Panoramic Perspective
We see only a tiny portion of our total life picture. Our viewpoint is in snapshots rather than the full-reel, wide-lens perspective. Only God knows your full life progression. Only God can help you adjust your perspective from backwards to forward. Trust Him to heal your past and guide your future.
“But Lot’s wife never made it; she lagged behind her husband and looked back—despite the messenger’s advice—and turned into a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26 VOICE).
Only God can help you adjust your perspective from backwards to forward. Share on X” username=”CandyArrington”]
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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