Today is Better Than Yesterday
“On this day ten years ago.”
There’s something sweet and bittersweet about the memories feature on our phones. You know the one that digs into your photo archive, pulls up a picture of your kids at the beach or that memory of a road trip with friends from years ago, throws it into a montage, and slaps on a song for maximum nostalgia. For me, the reminder of “what happened on this day ten years ago” quickly leads to the lingering thought: Wow, I’m getting old.
Nostalgia: The Double-Edged Sword
I’m not the most nostalgic guy, but I’ll admit, sometimes looking back at these photos has a way of catching me off guard as I think about how fast time slips through our fingers.
Recently, a woman from our church sent me a note sharing how much she loved being a mom. But now, being an empty nester causes her to miss the days filled with the noise and chaos of raising kids.
I get it. Kelly and I are stepping closer to this season and experiencing some of the same emotions.
“Don’t long for the good old days,” Solomon warns us. “This is not wise.” (Ecc. 7:10)
Here’s the thing with nostalgia. The more distance we put between ourselves and those “good old days,” the easier it becomes to romanticize them. Without realizing it, we can idealize a version of the past that might never have existed—thinking back to when things were simpler, or the world wasn’t so chaotic and confusing.
Change is inevitable.
Change is the only constant in life. When it happens outside of our control or because life keeps moving forward, change feels a lot like loss. And it’s okay to grieve that loss. Solomon adds some counterintuitive wisdom for how to respond to loss: “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.” (Ecc 7:3)
In other words, scripture gives us permission to feel sad and then direction to let it refine us instead of allowing it to trap us in the past.
So, How Do We Move Forward?
Simple. Reflection.
You’ve probably heard this metaphor before, but it’s worth repeating. Life is like driving a car. The windshield is wide, where most of your focus should be. But you’ve also got a rearview mirror. It’s there for a specific purpose – to glance at it every so often, check in, and make sure you’re not blind to what’s behind you. But you never drive the car while staring at it.
As followers of Jesus, this is our call. We glance back to reflect and learn, but we keep our eyes forward, ultimately fixed on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.
Here’s the takeaway.
If you’re finding yourself stuck in the past, you can embrace today by asking a few questions as a prayer.
What is God up to right now?
How can I participate in what He’s doing today?
Paul offers a roadmap for this approach to life. “I focus on this one thing,” he says. “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Phil. 3:13-14)
Nostalgia might make us feel warm and fuzzy for a minute, but it’s not reality. Reality is now, and the future is where our hope lies firmly anchored in Jesus.
Next time your phone serves up that video montage, enjoy it. Smile at those pictures, laugh at the ridiculous hairstyles, let your heart soften a bit. But when it’s over, remember that today is where God has placed you.
He is doing great work in you and through you. Let’s press on.