Time for Looking Back – and Looking Ahead

At this time of the year, as organizers are warming up the giant ball to drop on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, a lot of thoughts pass through our minds. For instance, I wonder about how long it will take for me to forget it’s 2024 and out of habit write 2023 again. We wonder how soon we should put up the Christmas decorations. Some of you have already done so – no sooner are the gifts unwrapped than folks start undecorating the tree.

Then there are more consequential thoughts. We assess the year nearly past, sometimes wistfully, sometimes fondly, and sometimes regretfully. Perhaps over the course of the year we’ve lost loved ones or dear friends, and they’ll be greatly missed in the new year. We happily review photos from vacations and travels, maybe even wishing we could revisit them. And we might conjure up some bad moments we’d like to erase from memory, our own and of those who were involved. Unfortunately, we can’t.

 

At such times it’s important to remember as someone has said, “Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is cash in hand.” What’s done is done, and it can’t be undone. We can learn from it. If necessary, we can offer apologies and seek forgiveness. And we can resolve to do better in the days to come.

 

The apostle Paul, I believe, had the proper perspective on this. After briefly reviewing some of his earthly accomplishments, he declared, “But whatever is to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…” (Philippians 3:7-8). In addition to his achievements, Paul had much for which to feel remorse, most notably having persecuted followers of the same Savior and Lord he had encountered and was boldly following himself.

 

I don’t think they had rear-view mirrors in those days, but the apostle still refused to allow things in the past burden his present or future. Paul wrote, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward for Christ Jesus.” Then he added, “All of us who are mature should take such a view of things…” (Philippians 3:13-15).

 

There’s value in reviewing the past, but not in dwelling on it. The good things make for fun memories, but now’s the time to think of how we can make more of them. The bad things can plague us if we let them, but that serves no good purpose. Learn from history and determine not to repeat it, especially as we rely on the power of Christ working in and through us. As Paul wrote to believers in ancient Philippi just verses later, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

 

When I find myself fretting over things I can’t undo or worrying about things that haven’t happened yet, I’m reminded of the title for the series of books by Richard Carlson, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – and It’s All Small Stuff. There’s much truth to that title.

 

With the new year just heartbeats away, we can congratulate ourselves for making it through another year, navigating all of its ups and downs. We’ve done some worthwhile things. Hooray! We’ve made some mistakes. Who hasn’t? Most of all, we’ve laid the foundation for whatever lies ahead.

Now, before we’ve ventured too far into the new year, is the time for making plans, setting goals, and determining how to heed Paul’s wise and timeless admonition: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Aligning our thoughts with God’s, we can make the coming year better than the last.