Glances of the Past

The older I get, the more I think about the past.

Perhaps this is natural and every aging person does it. I am not sure. One thing that comes to mind, the past has a longer view (number of years) than does the potential future (fewer years), so it’s only natural to think about the volumes instead of the unknown.

When I think about the past I do not dwell on lost opportunity or mistakes, instead, I relish the memories of days gone by. After all, it is really too late to anguish over spilled milk, but the memories of a life lived are so vivid. It is almost as if I can taste that first drink of coffee (it never tastes as good as it smells!), smell the woodsmoke around the campfire at Williams Point on Lake Murvaul, feel the cold of the water as I jump into the lake that is partially fed by the creek that runs deep below my feet, feel the burn of energy as we hammer the nails, and enjoy the companionship of pets that have been long gone (Thor, Ruffles, Momma Cat, Bitsy…long list!)

Here’s my thought today. The problem with living in the past are as many, albeit potentially enjoyable. Three things come to mind and I’ve shared these many times in many ways. Perhaps you have something new to add that will make my list longer or different.

You fail to enjoy the present.

With my family, it is ofttimes easier to remember the past because we see each other so seldom in the present. We are not connected like we were back then. There was a time we lived across the nation in the two biggest states, Alaska and Texas. Now, I’m in the “in-between” of Washington, and none of us live in Alaska any longer. Hmmm. Time to think this one through!

Take my kids, for an example. Back then I saw them every day. I heard their voices all the time. Family time. School. Church. Vacations. It seemed we were always together. My memories of those times are so strong it is often hard to extricate myself from them and see my kids for who they have become today. Married. Lives of their own. Careers. Spouses. And yes, even a child.

One of the problems of living in the past memories is that we do not allow those from the past to grow up into who they are today. There was a friend from school years ago that I have great memories of the times we hung out together, rode our bikes, did campouts in the back yard – all those typical 60’s things. I went to his dad’s funeral, and that brings up poignant memories of their own. Then we moved into high school and times changed. We lost the connection. In fact, I have not seen or heard of him these past 40 years. So, I dug around and finally found that he passed over 20 years ago. There will be no reconnection. My memories are all I have left.

Past memories shade the present with colors of discontent.

We often hold up our idea of what could be the best in the present, only if shaded by the light of the dream state of the past perfection.

Yes, it is true, a Dr. Pepper back then was so much better than today – but there’s no way I can actually compare that past with the present in a taste comparison. The recipe has changed, and so have my taste buds. What could never be imagined as enjoyable back then, is simply part of the everyday acceptable diet in the present – Brussel sprouts anyone? Well. Except for watermelon… It will always hold a bad place in the experiment and will never be accepted in the present, or the future. Never.

It’s like comparing those “good ol’ days” to the present. There is no true comparison. The past can never really be relived in the present. Life has progressed so much and there is not an unwind button to push to back up the decades a little bit. Just like we cannot imagine the future and expect it to unfold according to our view and timeline. I mean, where is the Jetson’s lifestyle today?

Past viewing shades the hope of a better tomorrow

Urban sprawl wipes out neighborhoods. The Channelview of the past does not exist today and will never be reclaimed in the future. Those that live in there know this better than I, only if they were there at some point in the past and can compare the old with the new. Those that have fled Channelview because it is different understand it even better.

Old swimming holes do not exist. Stores of days gone by are replaced by modern monstrosities. It is not safe for kids to ride their bikes all over town. Laws have changed in many places and what we did out of habit is not allowed today.

• Bike helmets required. What? I wonder when they will have airbags on bicycles! There were no bike helmets in my past. No store sold them. No one required them.
• No open riding in the back of a truck – we used to sit on the tailgate and drag our feet on the roads and ride standing on the step-boards and lean out to see if we could touch tree branches. My bride remembers riding in the back of the truck sitting in lawn chairs for the hours it took to get to their favorite vacation spot – Garner State Park.
• Mowing yards pushing a huge Yazoo mower up and down hills on wet, slippery grass. It’s a wonder I still have my toes. Today? The parent would be called on the carpet for child labor laws and unsafe practices!
• Taking our BB guns, a handful of nuts, and maybe a canteen of water, and disappearing in the woods all day. Never thinking about heading home until hunger pains or the setting sun demanded our return.

This past I remember fondly does not exist in the present. Freedoms of the past are controlled by laws of the present and will only tighten down in the future. Better enjoy your present now because it will be outlawed in the future!

Ok…! On second thought let’s just get lost in the memories of the past and forget the present and ignore the future.

Before you go off half-cocked, let’s keep everything in perspective!

The apostle Paul makes a favorite statement, “Forgetting the things in the past, let us reach for the things in front of us…” (Philippians 3:13). Though a good way of looking at our negative past life, Paul still shared his testimony which is basically a reciting of his past indiscretions and conversion experience. So. There is something good about the past we should hang on to.

Perhaps the admonishment is to
not let the past
control our present
as we move into the future.

My other thought revolves around the idea that we never face the future successfully unless we know the past, and have learned from it. You know, “Why things are the way they are, and how did we ever get to this point”?!!? All our knowledge is built on the shoulders of those who dug it out in some far off place and is part of our history. Remember the adage?

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
~George Santayana, The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress (1905-1906)

Perhaps we should remember the past, but why should we relive it? There are war scenes enacted by everyday grown-ups that cannot seem to get past the history that claims their focus. It’s the same with children. They go to theme parks that are based upon some fairy tale book, or popular movie, and they try to relive what they’ve read and seen. Even into their adult years! I just don’t understand it!

I know, in some way, I’m extremely connected to the past. I love my trips to Israel, walking down the trails of past experiences and remembering the Bible in light of location, location, location. I thrill reading Historical Fictions that allow me to connect an authors imagination to the past and help it come alive in my mind. James Alexander Thom, anyone?

How about you? What do your Glances of the Past say about your world? Care to share?