Leaving The Past Behind

At times it is best to let the past remain where it is.

Yet we try to bring the past into our present and attempt to build our future with the broken stones of memories we would just as soon forget.

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Debby Efurd at a writers conference.  As people were mingling and introducing themselves, I did as I often do and walked up to her and said, “Hi I’m John, what’s your story?”

It is amazing at times what people will tell you about their life if they feel you will gentle with what you find.

Debby said, “I had an abortion when I was young and kept it a secret for thirty years.”

She wrote a book about it called, Go Tell It!

A few moments later, Debby handed me a copy of her book of which I read in just a couple of days.

Not only did Debby bring into her present and possible future the past and the secret of an abortion, but also the memories of an unstable family life growing up and ultimately a volatile marriage of her own.

Every memory of every tragic event followed her until in her own words, she wrote, “The day I felt closest to God is when I confessed my deepest, darkest secret…for me, it was my secret of abortion.”

When Debby finally untangled herself from her past she was able to face the present and determine that God indeed had for her a bright future and a promise that she would tell her story and many would be made aware that they too could leave their past behind.

What are you holding on to from your past?

What have you carried on your back for years which makes every step you take with that weight upon you more and more difficult?

Even the great Apostle Paul realized he could not grasp what was ahead of him with the same hands that were holding onto what was behind him.

Here is what he wrote in the book of Philippians, “I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing.  Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.”

Today can be the day that you forget yesterday and all of it’s pain and begin looking forward to tomorrow where God has laid out for you a beautiful life.