“I’m thankful that the pain of yesterday is often hard to recall.”

A thought by Larry Osborne, (2009-04-04) from his book, Accidental Pharisees: Avoiding Pride, Exclusivity, and the Other Dangers of Overzealous Faith (Kindle Locations 1321-1322). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

That is such a good thing. For so many the pain in their past controls their view of today so to not have that happen is a very good thing.

But Larry also looks at the opposite. He says, “But our rose-colored memories can also have a detrimental effect. They can blind us to the beauties of the present. They can distort reality. They can leave us with an unholy dissatisfaction, where every glass is half empty and our dreams of the future are nothing but a longing for a nonexistent past.”

He goes on, “I’ve seen romanticized memories destroy marriages. Bored husbands and wives reconnect with an old flame on Facebook or at a high school reunion. After comparing the slog of the present with an idealized memory of the past, they cast off the drudgery of today to reclaim the glories of yesterday. Unfortunately, they always seem to forget why the old relationship ended in the first place. But it usually doesn’t take long for them to remember. And by then it’s too late. They’re caught in a back-to-the-future nightmare.”

He then says, “I’ve also watched the relentless pursuit of a romanticized past lead people to displace their families, sidetrack their careers, and squander their finances. I’ve seen it tear apart churches, obliterate contentment, and destroy legacies. Perhaps that’s why the author of Ecclesiastes wrote, ‘Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.” He knew what we so quickly forget: These are the good old days. Or they will be before long.”

The past is past and the future is ahead of us but the life we are living and that we have control over is in the present. “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

So where are you living?

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