ON MONDAY ~ ONE MORE VERSE FROM LAST WEEK'S TOPIC

 Last week's post concerning "REGRET" sparked quite a conversation and seems to have hit most of us squarely between the eyes.  There is not one thing I like more about writing than for a conversation to be inspired by my musing.  Since my move, I have deeply missed my friends I spent a great deal of time with talking over deep matters of faith and other earth shattering topics (such as what do you put on your peanut butter sandwich). This online conversation feeds my soul--thank you to all who are willing to give me feedback.  SO---I will not make a promise I might break--but I intend for this to be the final post on regret.

A song started spinning around in my head while going over the responses and exploring where they took me.

I am not a huge Cher fan, but anytime I think about turning back time, I start humming her song.  Like her or not--the mark of a remarkable artist is the ability to come up with a song that stands the test of time (PUN INTENDED).  Some of the lyrics from the song are our starting point~

If I could turn back time

If I could find a way

I'd take back those words that hurt you

And you'd stay

I don't know why I did the things I did

I don't know why I said the things I said

Pride's like a knife, it can cut deep inside

Words are like weapons, they wound sometimes

There is more--but this speaks volumes and I am certain Cher never realized we would use her song to give us a lesson of faith.  ALL things can be used for God's purpose.

What started me on this train of thought was a comment on Facebook under the blog post.  Let me state up front, a very Godly friend posted this comment and I always mull over her wisdom when she shares.  The comment in entirety ~

"If we are being sanctified, then there will always be times when we look back retrospectively and realize that we could have done something differently. (my note-or said something differently) But, at that moment we did the best we could with what we knew or had.  If we look at it that way, realizing we would have acted differently to that situation now is a sign of growth. Maybe?"

My reply to her comment~

"It's when we allow shame to cloud retrospection that we are in trouble."

To which she agreed.

And HERE is the kicker, Friends, if we turned that clock back---we would not have the knowledge and hopefully wisdom we gained from retrospection.  We, more than likely, are going to repeat our actions.  SO--where am I headed?  What has happened has happened.  Instead of rolling around in the regret of the past, would not the better path be to learn from it and do better?  Yes, as Believers, we are all on our path to sanctification.  Some of us are easily distracted, and stroll along without haste--while others are racing toward Jesus.  OH, that I could race instead of meandering.  Sorry--last two sentences are slightly off the point, but are great examples of getting caught up in meandering--even in writing.  

God uses it all---the good, the bad, and even the ugly to teach us.  How beneficial it would be if instead of becoming a broken record of regret, we could instead take EVERYTHING as an indicator of the direction the path should take.  Learn from the past and use it as a guide as we continue down the path.  OH--the unspeakable joy when we finally see the face of Jesus at the end of the path!

"But one thing I do:

forgetting what lies behind

 and straining forward to what lies ahead.

'I press on toward the goal

 for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ.' "

Philippians 3:13-14