Look forward

April 5, 2024, I wrote these words in my journal.

Look forward (ahead)

Look forward (excited)

I was inclined by grace to understand that forward meant more than one thing. I love it when I get to see things from a different perspective.

I had been living in the past, replaying conversations and actions and sighs and eye rolls and hand gestures, as if they all held a secret code that if I could only figure out, I’d somehow find peace from the painful events of my life. Actually, from the painful actions of others.

I already knew how futile this was. And painful. People can only hurt you once, but every time you decide to replay a memory you end up re-hurting yourself. And the recall is never as same as the real event. It’s like you’re playing a game of telephone with yourself; each time you tell yourself the story, some element changes, you’re still in the dark, and the pain stays as acute as the first time the thing happened.

My journaling time is my time in prayer. I feel the spirit take the pen some days, or speak beautiful words like the words above. And when I write them down, at least that story never changes because the pen is indelible.

This morning I was inspired to share those words. I would like to think someone will read them and be encouraged by them.

I need to look ahead, to my future, to the good things that await me, but I also need to be excited about my future- I GET to be excited about my future. If my brain is going to do me any favors in it’s deep thinking, it might as well tell me a story of hope and goodness and the culmination of everything I want right in front of me!! DREAM BIG ( those are inspired words we can discuss another day )

This is not an innovative thought. A client from a looong time ago told me this quote:

“If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.”―Lao Tzu

My present is being able to write these thoughts and share them with you. And my future is unlimited.

Big smiles,

Elisha