Where are you looking?

What kind of a car do you drive? I have driven the same Honda Odyssey minivan for 16 years. It has over 276,000 miles on it and has more stories attached to it than I can count. It’s hauled kids to school, youth events, FCA, lacrosse games, baseball games, football games and college.

The day I got my new car was a happy day in my world. We still haven’t gotten rid of the van yet. We’re trying to decide the best destination for GG, short for ghetto girl (yes, there’s a story behind her name). 

Today, I drive a Rav4. I named it Daisy, because it’s white and smells good. It still has that new car smell. I love it. It’s smaller and it is the perfect size for me. I can zip in and out of places easily.

Yesterday, I was sitting with one of my girls in an attorney’s office. We were discussing her present situation and making sure she was safe and secure. She kept referring to her past and was so concerned about it’s impact on her future. I was so impressed by what the attorney said to her.

How did you get here? Did you ride in a car?”

When she replied that she had, he went on to ask,

How big is the windshield of the car?

Big.” she replied.

What about the rear view mirror?”

Small.” she said.

He wanted her to see the things in her past are small by comparison to what is in front of her, her future.

My girl is smart and has a sense of humor that I don’t even think she realizes. She smirked at me and quietly said,

Yeah, but the back windshield is almost as big as the front one.”

I could tell she was proud of herself. She figured she just blew his analogy out of the water. But then I had to add my two cents worth to the conversation. I gave her a hug, then looked at her and said,

Yes, but if you’re looking out the back windshield, then you’re facing the wrong direction. You don’t get to your destination by facing backwards to drive. You have to fix your eyes in front of you and start moving.”

She just smiled at me. She got it. She knew her future was looking brighter than her past. She was just allowing the enemy to try and pull her down by shifting her gaze behind her instead of straight ahead. That’s his m.o.  Jesus makes that abundantly clear in John 10:10,

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The Apostle Paul told the Philippians how to handle life in Philippians 3:13-14,

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

He doesn’t focus on the past. He looks ahead. His future is ahead of him, not behind him, and so is ours. Hebrews 12:2 goes on to encourage us to do likewise,

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Every day we open our eyes is an opportunity to look ahead, focus on Jesus and see where He’s taking us. We can’t get to where He wants us to go if we’re focused on the rear view mirror.

Where are you looking?