October 6, 2015 (Tuesday)
Yesterday’s blog about childhood games was a nostalgic visit to the past. I shared some memories from long ago.
Is nostalgia good or bad? When I asked myself that question, I remembered Paul’s statement about “forgetting those things which are behind” (Philippians 3:13). But a serious study of the chapter in which Paul said that shows us he was renouncing the pride that he once had in all his legalistic efforts to attain righteousness before he met Christ. He was not saying that remembering the truly good things that have happened in our lives is a bad thing.
Serious clinical tests have been conducted to determine if nostalgia is good or bad for us. Those tests are inconclusive; some seem to show that it’s bad, but others that it is good. What do you think?
I think we should cherish our good memories, but not live in the past. The primary question now is not, “Who was I?” but “Who am I?” In some ways, I’m the same person who went to John Marshall Junior High School in the 1940’s, but in other ways I am not. A short glance in the mirror confirms the fact that I am different today. Not only has my body changed, I have gradually evolved into an aging adult, and I must meet today’s challenges, which are far different from what they were as an adolescent.
Lessons about this? I must not allow myself to glorify the past to such a degree that I miss out on the good things happening today. On the other hand, I must not let the negative events of the past drag me down today. I can cherish the sweet memories, and learn from past mistakes, but today is the only day I really have. I must not waste it by dwelling on good or bad memories of the past, or good or bad plans for the future.
Shania Twain sings a song that includes the following stanza:
Brush yourself up, no regrets
This is as good as it gets
Don’t expect more or less
Just go out and give it your best
Here’s what the Bible says:
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. (Romans 12:11-12 MSG).