Posts Tagged: “Timeless”

“The Past and Its Closed Doors”

On February 21, 2019 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer


“We move forward, only forward. The doors behind us are closed forever.

Facing what comes to us, with strength, is a gift from this program we share. Letting go of the yesterdays and the last years is another gift offered by this program. And trust that what we face along with what we let go will weave the pattern of our rightful unfolding–that is the ultimate gift given to us by this program.

I need never go back again. I am spared that. My destiny lies in the future. And I can be certain it will bring me all that I desire, and more.”

(From Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women by Karen Casey)

“Forgetting what lies behind . . .” (Philippians 3:13, The Apostle Paul)

When a door closes behind me—whether it closes quietly, squeaks, or slams—I tend to turn around.  This may be prudent when it comes to literal doors.  It is definitely unwise when it comes to a door in the fabric of time.

Perhaps it would be better for me to think of closed doors as something “I am spared . . . ,” as Casey says.

I was recently watching a bit of a T.V. show (“Timeless” perhaps?) about a team of people and their attempt to thwart bad past events.  I was lost.  Now, I had never watched the show before, and that may have been part of the problem.  Also, I came into this particular episode in the middle of things.  However, I suspect that the main reason I was so lost was simply this: In the story world of “Timeless,” changing the past is a very difficult thing to do.

In truth, changing anything is tricky.  Changing the past, even if it were possible, is the law of unintended consequences on steroids.

In Philippians 3:1-14, the Apostle Paul listed some of the wonderful gifts he had been given, and his accomplishments in his B.C. (“Before Christ”) days.  He then precedes to say that these things are now “rubbish” to him.

And then Paul says one of the wisest, most contradictory things ever said.  He says that he “forgets” what is behind (verse 13).

Now, I will admit that, at first blush, this does not seem wise.  In fact, it sounds completely contradictory.  How can you say that you are forgetting certain things, when you just made an itemized list of those very things?

Studying Hebrew and Greek gave me a new slant on remembering and forgetting.  In both Hebrew (which Paul knew) and in Greek (in which he wrote) the words for “remembering” and “forgetting” can refer to more than our translations suggest.  To “remember” can, and sometimes does, mean “to focus on someone or something.”  To “forget” means “to refuse to focus on someone or something.”

So, what Paul seems to be saying is that he no longer focuses on his past.  Recall, yes.  Focus, no.

The doors in my past, in your past, have closed.  This is not bad news.  In fact, it is profoundly good news.  The present has enough joys, enough sorrows, enough problems, enough opportunities.  I find that, when I really believe that, I can do one of two things.  Either I rejoice in this present moment, or I am able to endure this present problem or sorrow.

And, with the Apostle Paul and with Karen Casey, I can face today and tomorrow with a nice blend of quiet acceptance and eager anticipation.

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