If The Past Is Past, Why Can't I Get Past It?

I was watching a movie called EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED. This is the Russian man's letter to his American friend with whom he shared an adventure to find some people from the American man’s past.

"I was of the opinion that the past is past, and like all that is not now, it should remain buried along the side of our memories. I have reflected many times upon our rigid search. It has shown me that everything is illuminated in the light of the past. It is always along the side of us, on the inside, looking out. Like you said, "Inside out." In this way we will always be alongside each other. I will always be along the side of your life and you will always be along the side of mine. I am sending you this because we have shared something to exist for and of course, in case someone comes searching.”

There are so many things from my past that continue to live along the side of me. Whether they are people or experiences, they never truly leave. Some of them I wish were not there, some are still with me in joy and some I wish were still with me today.

Phil 3:13-14 says, "No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies 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, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."

There is no greater tragedy than to live in the past. Beth Moore says that if the past is not a traveling companion alongside you, helping to make you a better person, then it is a burden dragging you down. This is not such an easy task though. This verse in Philippians illuminated the past to me. Instead of straining and reaching for what is already behind me, I need to strive to finish the race. In looking forward, I will eventually receive the prize of heaven, which is the ultimate illumination of our lives.

1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "That's why we have this Scripture text: No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it-- What God has arranged for those who love him."

What God has arranged for our lives is like nothing we could ever imagine. If we stubbornly cling to the past or our ideas of what our life should be, we will withhold all the blessings that God has in store for us. I think we shouldn’t just put the past behind us, but we should allow it to run along the sides of our lives and use it to help propel us to the finish line and of course, in case someone comes searching.