“Another common response to the past is renunciation.”

A thought by H. Norman Wright DMin. from his book, Discovering Who You Are And How God Sees You (p.45). Baker Publishing Group (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Some people handle their past this way, they simply renounce it.

Norman says, “Past behaviors and attitudes are simply renounced, but they are not confronted and cleansed. Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie puts this so well when he says:

“We try to close the door on what has been, but all we do is suppress the dragons of memory. Every so often they rap persistently and want to come out into our consciousness for a dress rehearsal in preparation for a rerun in a new situation or circumstance. Renunciation of our memories sounds so very pious. The only thing wrong with it is that it doesn’t work.”

Norman goes on, “Instead of dragging along the unnecessary baggage of regret, blame, and renunciation, have you ever tried rejoicing over the past? That may sound strange but rejoicing eventually brings release. Rejoicing over the past doesn’t mean that you deny the hurtful incidents or the pain they brought you. Rather you come to the place where you no longer ask why but how: How can I learn from what happened to me and be a different person because of it?”

That is so good, we rejoice which eventually brings release and we learn from it.  That is such a great way to handle our past, isn’t it?

Yes, yes!