Why are you still picking up the Past?
Have you been harboring resentment and past pain, are there things in your life that are difficult to let go of? Has the past gripped you like a ball and chain where it is difficult to either move in the present or even face the future?
A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side.
The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman.
Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his journey.
The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them.
Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”
The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”
This simple story has a beautiful message about living in the present moment. How often do we carry around past hurts, holding onto resentments when the only person we are hurting is ourselves?
“We all go through times in life when other people say things or behave in a way that is hurtful towards us. We can choose to ruminate over past actions or events, but it will ultimately weigh us down and sap our energy.
Instead, we can choose to let go of what doesn’t serve us anymore and concentrate on the present moment. Until we can find a level of peace and happiness in the present circumstances of our lives, we will never be content, because ‘now’ is all we will ever have,” Gassho shares.
Michael Cox shares in Guidepost.org his struggles with forgiveness and dealing with the past. “Sometimes I’m the world’s worst when it comes to beating myself up over a situation that I didn’t handle well. I ask for forgiveness if needed, and attempt restitution if warranted. I do my best to make amends. But even so, I keep worrying and worrying, not letting go.” Have you been feeling similarly? Well, today I want to share two key tools to help you with the unforgiveness of either yourself or others.
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17, God says, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” if you struggle with unforgiveness you’re living in the old, embracing the cobwebs of life. Today is your day, to embrace that you are a new creature and that the old has passed away. Allow the warmth of God’s love and light to brighten up your day. The past is like a rear-view mirror, its only purpose is to serve to take a small glimpse back to find your reference for what’s ahead of you. Your past doesn’t dictate your new journey, but your present state does. What you do today is what counts not what you did yesterday.
2. In Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Though life may currently feel like a desert and wasteland, take heart because your past doesn’t define your future. It takes the fire of pain to purify the gold that is inside you. You must dwell on the now (what is in front of you). Every twenty-four hours you receive is an opportunity to go 1-0. Maximize your day by focusing on what you can accomplish in the time frame given and erase from your memory what you didn’t accomplish.
Recall the story of the two monks, while one monk set the woman down on the other side to safety, the young monk refused to let go of the disappointment of the older monk touching and helping the woman. One moved on while the other one was left on the other side of the river. Are you living your life on the other side of the river of regret?
List some things you may feel are currently holding you back from moving forward.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I want you to imagine walking in the newness of all the things you are hoping to accomplish and achieve. God is sharing that He is making a new way through the desert. He is providing streams in the middle of the scorching sand. This is your time to list all the possibilities and dreams you have. If at the moment it may feel overwhelming, focus on just one or two things you would like to accomplish today. Go ahead and list those out. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Small victories today distance out past defeats from the past. Reflect on what you can do today and not on what you didn’t do yesterday.
Resources: https://medium.com/@soninilucas/two-monks-and-a-woman-zen-story-c15294c394c1