forging ahead doesn’t mean forgetting what’s behind

the theme this week on verve is focusing on the future instead of looking back at the past. one of the primary things that has been tossed around out here in the blog-o-sphere and in some circles i cross into now and then is how so much of the conversation about new forms of church is always centered around all of the things that are “wrong” with the old systems we left behind.  it is quite the dilemma for so many of us because the reality of most of our experiences is that our old experienced fueled the fire for change.  we left for a reason.  now, moving forward, though, we need to be very careful that more energy is spent on the future instead of the past, to be careful to focus on what we “are” about instead of all the things we “aren’t.”

i can say i have been very guilty of this, especially in the first year or two of the refuge (we are now gettting close to being 3 1/2 years old).  it was probably the biggest part of our initial identity–all of the things we would no longer do.   i remember a conversation with someone who said “i’d just love to hear what you are for instead of what you are against.”  it was painful to hear, but i took it to heart.  something began to shift in me and i began to more consciously notice how often my gaze went backward instead of forward.

what’s impossible to expect ourselves to do, though, is to not ever look back.  part of our past experiences significantly shaped us into who we are.  i am all for moving forward, but i do not think we are supposed to forget some of the lessons we’ve learned from the past.   it’s okay to strongly disagree with the systems we used to be from and also strongly agree that there were good parts to glean. one of the things i’m also learning is that anger can be a very helpful, energizing emotion when we dont let it overtake us. often our anger and disappointment can propel us toward good things, new things, hopeful things.

so how do we look forward instead of back?  i would love to hear some of your thoughts, but here are a few questions i like to ask  that help me to look forward instead of back.

keep asking some honest, reflective, forward-considering questions:

• what are we really about?
  
• why are we doing this?
  
• what are we really really good at?
  
• what are we not so good at?
  
• how is the kingdom of God being expressed through us, no matter how big or small?
  
• what are we learning through trying this?
  
• what do we hope for in a year? two years? five?
• what parts of our past  experiences do we need to keep shedding?
  
• what parts of our past experiences do we need to keep integrating into our present?
• what are some of my dreams about “what could be”?   how can we work tangibly toward some of these dreams, what are some first steps?

i do not think we are supposed to have amnesia and forget our past; i also do not think we are supposed to let it blind us to our future.  it’s a tricky dance, but i think with some intention & God’s spirit at work in us individually & collectively, we can get the fuel to keep fanning these new flames into fire.

looking more forward than backward,