Lately, I find myself watching the History Channel a lot and reading books about the past. There's just so much nuggets of golden learning from our history. The best way to really move forward is to understand the future in the context of the past. Well, the past can either drag us or catapult us forward.
What is about the past that can drag us? It is when we cannot accept our failures, when we do not learn to forgive (others and ourselves), and when we miss to see it as something that will prepare us for the future.
What is about the past that can catapult us forward? It is when we pause and reflect of our learnings from a mistake, when it humbles us, when the compounded experiences are translated into applied wisdom.
In the Holy Bible, the whole Old Testament is in preparation for Who is to come, Jesus Christ. It is a vital element to understanding the fullness of the New Testament. Otherwise, we will not be able grasp our salvation history. He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:21).”
When Steve Jobs resigned from being the CEO of Apple, I was able to review his Standford Speech to graduates. He enumerated many of what seemingly were failures, but instead became the reasons for his future success. He was an adopted child, a college drop-out, ousted from Apple in the 80's and back again, and had a rare type of pancreatic cancer. But these sad experiences led to studying calligraphy which became the reason for clear true type fonts of the Mac, finding two companies (neXT and Pixar) that contributed greatly to Apple's innovations, and a passionate outlook to live each day as if it was his last. He mentioned about "Connecting the dots," and that you can only connect the dots backwards. So as you read this blog post today in whatever seemingly hopeless situation you are in, it is going to connect to something great in the future, as long as we keep our faith in Him strong.
"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope (Jeremiah 29:11)."
Those who are great visionaries have a deep appreciation of the past and have a good sense of the present. Let us then gain from the experiences of those who have gone before us. Let's reflect on our own mistakes and do better next time. More importantly, look to the future with the humility Christ has shown us.
What is about the past that can drag us? It is when we cannot accept our failures, when we do not learn to forgive (others and ourselves), and when we miss to see it as something that will prepare us for the future.
What is about the past that can catapult us forward? It is when we pause and reflect of our learnings from a mistake, when it humbles us, when the compounded experiences are translated into applied wisdom.
In the Holy Bible, the whole Old Testament is in preparation for Who is to come, Jesus Christ. It is a vital element to understanding the fullness of the New Testament. Otherwise, we will not be able grasp our salvation history. He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:21).”
When Steve Jobs resigned from being the CEO of Apple, I was able to review his Standford Speech to graduates. He enumerated many of what seemingly were failures, but instead became the reasons for his future success. He was an adopted child, a college drop-out, ousted from Apple in the 80's and back again, and had a rare type of pancreatic cancer. But these sad experiences led to studying calligraphy which became the reason for clear true type fonts of the Mac, finding two companies (neXT and Pixar) that contributed greatly to Apple's innovations, and a passionate outlook to live each day as if it was his last. He mentioned about "Connecting the dots," and that you can only connect the dots backwards. So as you read this blog post today in whatever seemingly hopeless situation you are in, it is going to connect to something great in the future, as long as we keep our faith in Him strong.
"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope (Jeremiah 29:11)."
Those who are great visionaries have a deep appreciation of the past and have a good sense of the present. Let us then gain from the experiences of those who have gone before us. Let's reflect on our own mistakes and do better next time. More importantly, look to the future with the humility Christ has shown us.
2 comments:
Thanks Kirby. John Maxwell has written a book called "failing forward". It is woth reading.Thanks Kirby. John Maxwell has written a book called "failing forward". It is woth reading.
Hi Fr. Paul! Can't wait for your return to the Philippines. Even for just a while, it will be a good reunion. Yes, Maxwell has a wonderful way of describing how our past failures can lead to our future success.
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