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| Looking forward |
Most vehicles normally can
go forward as well as backward. We've seen trains travel in reverse in order to
either switch tracks or connect with a different car or caboose. But they most
certainly do this quickly in order to go forward which is their main purpose to
get to a new destination.
Obviously, our cars go forward and backward so we can maneuver properly in and out of garages, parking spaces, and so forth. Yet both trains and cars constantly deal with the danger of traveling backward and avoiding an accident. Amazingly, planes have no way to move in reverse! They can only go forward on the ground. And believe it or not, crash statistics show flying is the safest way to travel. Now there is something to remember in the New Year!
Happy New Year 2020
This is a brand new year and we are tempted to look back over 2019 to reminisce about things that have happened to us. True, we do need to learn lessons from yesterday, but constantly dwelling on every regrettable past event is a danger to our future and like a train traveling backward unable to stop!
We can imagine what would happen if that occurred. Derailment. An alarm should go off in our heads right about now. We simply cannot move forward with our new lives while we are simultaneously stumbling backward. It's so much more exciting to travel ahead and see the sites!
This is perhaps the best chance we will get this year. A chance to celebrate and then make plans for a better future. Why wouldn’t we want all that? In fact, we may already have vague plans in the back of our minds that we wish to activate but are not quite sure how to go about it. Or maybe we haven't found the time yet to think about plans. (Careful. Don't look backward!)
With five days already into 2020 (and a new decade!), it's time to start our newly acquired single-again life or at least another year into our single-again life. Whatever we choose to do, let’s not just sit there until we hear the radio announcer say, “Only 23 days until Christmas!” Grab a pen and notebook or journal and make some notes—we’re in this together. Here we go:
Obviously, our cars go forward and backward so we can maneuver properly in and out of garages, parking spaces, and so forth. Yet both trains and cars constantly deal with the danger of traveling backward and avoiding an accident. Amazingly, planes have no way to move in reverse! They can only go forward on the ground. And believe it or not, crash statistics show flying is the safest way to travel. Now there is something to remember in the New Year!
Happy New Year 2020
This is a brand new year and we are tempted to look back over 2019 to reminisce about things that have happened to us. True, we do need to learn lessons from yesterday, but constantly dwelling on every regrettable past event is a danger to our future and like a train traveling backward unable to stop!
We can imagine what would happen if that occurred. Derailment. An alarm should go off in our heads right about now. We simply cannot move forward with our new lives while we are simultaneously stumbling backward. It's so much more exciting to travel ahead and see the sites!
This is perhaps the best chance we will get this year. A chance to celebrate and then make plans for a better future. Why wouldn’t we want all that? In fact, we may already have vague plans in the back of our minds that we wish to activate but are not quite sure how to go about it. Or maybe we haven't found the time yet to think about plans. (Careful. Don't look backward!)
With five days already into 2020 (and a new decade!), it's time to start our newly acquired single-again life or at least another year into our single-again life. Whatever we choose to do, let’s not just sit there until we hear the radio announcer say, “Only 23 days until Christmas!” Grab a pen and notebook or journal and make some notes—we’re in this together. Here we go:
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| You think you have problems? |
Clear thinking is an
asset. Avoid vagueness in making plans.
Instead, be specific and strive for developed ideas. Write down just one
specific sentence or short paragraph that describes an ideal situation. I
want to work in the business world (vague). I am going to apply for the digital
marketing position at ExploreTech this week (specific). This gets the idea
out of our brains and onto paper where we can see it and start planning.
Something new. Be open to new possibilities. Working at jobs we did not enjoy in our past gives us a clue what not to do if we want to be happy. List three ideas to try even if it means accepting a temporary entry-level position. More satisfaction, less stress until that promotion comes along.
Build relationships. It may be time for a few new friends (while hanging on to some good, loyal friends), especially those in the same situation. They are out there if we look for them! We might discover someone who likes what we like at a new job, a friendly neighbor, or supportive Christian friends.
Face Forward
Looking back into our past keeps God from moving us forward. Repeat that sentence out loud! Write it on the refrigerator. Even before we were born, God made good plans for us, not plans for disaster (that was human error). He's just been waiting for us to face forward and listen. With God all things are possible. Nothing is too difficult for him even miracles to help us recover from our messy lives. Therefore, we need him in our corner, especially now. Just ask him—he loves helping us!
"May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed" (Psalm 20:4 NLT).
Something new. Be open to new possibilities. Working at jobs we did not enjoy in our past gives us a clue what not to do if we want to be happy. List three ideas to try even if it means accepting a temporary entry-level position. More satisfaction, less stress until that promotion comes along.
Build relationships. It may be time for a few new friends (while hanging on to some good, loyal friends), especially those in the same situation. They are out there if we look for them! We might discover someone who likes what we like at a new job, a friendly neighbor, or supportive Christian friends.
Face Forward
Looking back into our past keeps God from moving us forward. Repeat that sentence out loud! Write it on the refrigerator. Even before we were born, God made good plans for us, not plans for disaster (that was human error). He's just been waiting for us to face forward and listen. With God all things are possible. Nothing is too difficult for him even miracles to help us recover from our messy lives. Therefore, we need him in our corner, especially now. Just ask him—he loves helping us!
"May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed" (Psalm 20:4 NLT).
