Nostalgia

The past may be keeping us from moving forward.

9/28/20262 min read

It’s so strange to return to an area where you haven’t been in a long while. As we go through the once familiar streets, we notice changes along the way. Whether we see new developments, construction work, or closed establishments, things are different. We get a mixture of emotions from the comforts of the familiar to the amazement of the new.

The things we recognize bring back memories of the past. We get whiplash in time as we see the old and the new all at once. It is so strange that we almost feel like we don’t belong anymore in our former hometown. We miss what’s gone and are reluctant to accept what changed the landscape.

It’s funny how some of us resist change, while others embrace it and thrive on it. The resisters of change are nostalgic, while the embracers are futuristic. One clings to the past, while the other is open to new ideas and developments.

Although our personality defines these dispositions, our experiences influence our perception on time. If we have fond memories of the familiar, we resist change because we love those warm feelings washing over us when we see it all over again.

However, if we have negative memories of the familiar, we welcome change more readily. This is when we want change so we can wipe away the pain or negativity from the landscape of our lives.

God wants us to learn from the past, live in the present, and move forward into the future. We need to remember so that we appreciate what we have, learn from our past mistakes, and see the trustworthiness of God. However, it’s more important to welcome change and continually grow and develop. We mustn’t be complacent in stagnancy. By having that balance, we will thrive no matter what life brings our way. We will be flexible to adapt, but also savor special memories along the way.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 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 in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19