There’s a lot of wisdom in today’s quote, don’t you think?
And I love that it’s wrapped up in just a touch of humor.
The past is a tricky thing. We have to learn from it. And sometimes our heart is comforted, even blessed, by a walk down memory lane.
But sometimes . . . well, the past shows up hauling luggage weighted down with should haves and could haves and yells out a greeting dripping with an unrighteous voice of authority.
And that’s when the past deserves a “Nobody’s home” greeting. Or when you turn on the “No vacancy” sign. Or when you say, “Sorry. I’ve moved and left no forwarding address.”
In Your Words: When have you let the past go to voicemail? And how do you know whether to spend some time in the past — or whether to send the past packing?
When the Past Calls, Let It Go to Voicemail Click to Tweet
Comments 7
During the holidays the past comes knocking frequently. And most of the time I need to remember that quote. Great post, Beth.
Pithy and amazingly wise advice. You find the best quotes. Knowing when to skip calls gets easier w/ age–it’s less and less worth the distraction, unless there is clearly something new to glean.
I’ve begun to think that nostalgia is a tool that the devil uses to sap our strength. Ever notice how a ‘nice’ trip down memory lane can leave you with less energy to work in a suddenly slightly dimmer present?
I believe that God remembers all the good stuff from the past, and saves it for us. It’ll be waiting, and we can concentrate on being what He needs us to be, in the present to which He brings us.
Yes, we need to learn (and I certainly won’t scratch my nose with the hot end of a welding rod again…well, not soon…) but once the lessons are absorbed, move on. The past isn’t a museum.
It’s a cemetery, and JC said to let the dead bury their dead. We need to live!
I recently heard Dr. Caroline Leaf (a brain scientist) say that we are wired to believe that our future will be better than our past. God designed us to look to the future with hope and expectancy. I believe that’s why the enemy would have us dwell in the past–to go to times and places we can’t change, only to haunt us with our failures, fears, and insecurities. This quote made me think of Proverbs 4:25-28: “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Stay on course, keep moving forward, don’t dwell on the past or go backwards. However, there are many times that David reflects on God’s goodness in the past within the Pslams. Times when God met his need and provided deliverance. I believe there are things we should dwell on in the past–but only those things which are of good report. It’s way easier said than done.
Love this, Beth. Great quote and wise words from you. I’ve had to let the past go to voicemail as I have worked through some of my childhood issues. I’m learning to ignore and delete those voicemails, gradually.
This is a great quote! It’s too easy to let the past define our future. I like the idea of pressing “delete” on those old cruddy messages. 🙂
Such a good post for me. I need to read over and over. I’m sharing it so others can benefit also.