From the Pastor’s Desk

One of the lessons we all learn sooner or later is to let go of the hope for a better past. Despite the obvious futility of this universal hope, we see people wasting years of their lives hanging on to it.

Over 60 years ago, a Russian writer named P. D. Ouspensky wrote a novel entitled Strange Life of Ivan Osokin. It is the story of a man who wanted to amend his mistakes by living his life over again. "If only I could get back all the chances which life offered me and which I threw away," he said. "If only I could do things differently."

Ivan visits a magician who reluctantly and magically gives him a chance to live his life over again but warns him that nothing will be different. Ivan watches his life like a screenplay. As he watches the repetition of his strange life, he sees himself helplessly reliving the bitter failure of his school days, the sweetness of early life, and the reckless experiments of his particular temperament. He does the same absurd things the second time around, right down to the smallest detail.

Ivan desperately pleads, "What am I to do?!" The magician said to him: "Remember, if you go back as blind as you are now, you will do the same things over again. Repetition is inevitable unless you first change yourself."

Louise Fletcher Tarkington once wrote a poem, "The Land of Beginning Again," with a verse that any reflective and sensitive person can identify with. 

I wish there were some wonderful place

Called the Land of Beginning Again,

Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches

and all our poor, selfish grief

Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door

And never be put on again. 

The possibility for a better future begins when we let go of the hope for a better past. Remember, Jesus gave us the chance to know new beginnings. Let us take this moment to thank God for all the good and wonderful things He gives us, and let us try to let go and let God guide us in our Future. 

See you on Sunday, 

Misty