“forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal
for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
–Philippians 3:13b-14
Lori and I just returned from a trip to Iceland and Greenland. Over the course of ten days we saw geysers and glaciers, waterfalls and cooled lava, icebergs and hot springs, craters and craggy coastlines. When you add in the wildlife that we encountered–sheep and horses, seals and sled dogs–it was an amazingly rich time in God’s creation.
I could not possibly count all of the waterfalls we saw on that trip, including one we could walk behind, yet on the first full day in Iceland, I was struck by a different lesson repeated many times throughout our journey. The hike to that waterfall wasn’t particularly difficult though it did involve climbing up some rocky terrain and changing elevation. Given the uneven nature of the ground, my eyes were either focused down or toward the waterfall the whole way.
After we got to the closest viewing point we stopped to soak in the sights and sounds before turning back to head down the hill and return to our car. It was then that I got a glimpse of the beauty behind us. The photo accompanying this post seeks to capture what I saw. Given the majesty of that view, over the rest of our trip, I would intentionally stop as we climbed steps or hiked the landscape taking us up to another waterfall. Some of that rest was to allow me to catch my breath, but I would also turn around to make sure I didn’t miss the landscape. Such glimpses filled me with wonder over what was in front and behind. Both views blessed me.
In pondering that experience it occurred to me that many times we don’t always appreciate what is behind us. Legendary baseball player Satchel Paige once said ”Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” Likewise, the Apostle Paul wrote “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Both men proclaimed a truth I also affirm; that there are times when individuals need to get beyond a painful past. I have known and suspect you have, too, persons who have overcome horrific circumstances and profound loss to create a life that is full and creative and loving. Individuals who have chosen for their own well-being not to look back and instead continue to face forward. I have great respect for such people and empathy for those who struggle to do so.
Yet I also believe that without looking back we can miss out on important lessons that help us grow. Without looking back, we can fail to appreciate how much we have accomplished in life. Without looking back, we can fail to see the ways God has been present in the good and hard moments and all the moments in between.
Certainly I can’t predict what a backwards look will evoke in you, but my recent travels demonstrate that such a glance can bless us. Making clear not only how far we have journeyed, but filling us with a sense of wonder we might otherwise miss.
God of the journey, thank you for your presence in every moment of life. Even as I keep looking forward as life unfolds, give me the strength on occasion to look back, too. Amen.
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