Backing Up

Recently my brother and I were reminiscing about events of the past. One of my memories mentioned was when my grandfather would take me out driving to gain experience so I could take the driving test for my driver’s license. I remembered how he had told me that the less backing up I did the less I could get into trouble. Certainly, backing a vehicle up with today’s technology is a better situation than years ago considering the built-in cameras. In those days, the most we had to assist in backing up with was watching our blind spots and mirrors.

I considered my grandfather a very wise man and he became for me a mentor in life. He was a great listener and often challenged me to think through issues or decisions by asking me questions. But the backing up lesson I also took to life in general.

I read once that when people are working towards a goal or on improving themselves and they experience a setback they tend to fall back to what they knew before. In some ways it is like accepting that the lesser stage in life as somewhat of a safe haven, their familiarity. They might even accept that their original goal was not obtainable.

I also heard it said that when we experience a failure or setback that we decide between two posts. We can either use that experience as a hitching post and hold on to that failure and live with regret or we can make it a guiding post. By using it as a guiding post we learn from the setbacks, take the lesson, and move on.

For me, when I experienced a setback of any kind, I needed to apply all those lessons to move on towards the goal of being a better person and improving myself. We can read all through the Bible on the many setbacks experienced by the people in Scripture, and the way forward was to stay faithful to God who was always there for His people. The way to eternal happiness with God is to stay focused on God and continually moving forward in a growing relationship with Him. How do we do that?

I am reminded of a story of two boys traveling homeward one wintry night. A fresh snow had fallen that day, and they needed to travel across an open field on their way home. Just before crossing the field, one boy said to the other, “I bet I can walk a straighter line across the field than you can.”  The second boy accepted the challenge, and he crossed the field first. Every so often as he was walking across the field he would look back and assess his progress. He would make slight adjustments left or right to try and maintain a straight line. Finally, he completed his trek across the field, and his final assessment was that it wasn’t too bad of a jagged line.

Now the first boy starts across the field and in doing so he focused on a tree on the other side of the field. When he completed his trek across the field and the two boys reviewed the results, the last line across the field was amazingly straight as could be.

My takeaway with that story is that focusing on God and His calling for my life and not constantly looking back at my failures is the surest way to heaven. I do know I have more than enough slip ups but that story for me confirms the lessons I have learned in letting go of the regrets and to keep moving forward. Let us keep our eyes on the Lord and leave any regrets behind and carry the lessons learned forward on our journey. A great lesson in how to Shine Like the Son. God bless you.