“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
I believe in evolution. Before you click out of this blog and scorn me as a Darwinist…..hear me out. I’m talking about our personal evolutions. How we as individuals change over time to become who we are.
Recently I had major back surgery. It left me with a 12” scar along my spine and a big hole in my self-esteem. I had to re-learn how to walk correctly and it severely limits my stamina. It affected not only my physical health, but my mental well-being. My injury distressed my family, our hobbies, our finances and my career. Those of you who know me – understand that I am not the same person I was a year ago. Many of the traits that I valued – those things that I thought gave me self-worth – were gone overnight.
It wasn’t until just recently that I gave myself permission for that to be OKAY. I have changed. I have evolved. I didn’t come to this conclusion on my own….and it certainly didn’t happen overnight. I now have a wonderful physical therapist/sadist who has been through some major life crap herself. She constantly tells me – “That is who you were before. Forget about that and move on.” (By the way – she has this unbelievable Russian/Swedish funky accent that makes everything she says seem more exotic yet brutally painful if that is possible!)
My response to her for the first week or so was….”yeah, but – “ and she would quickly cut me off with a curt “Move on.” But you don’t understand, I would lament “I used to…..” and again she would reply “That’s the past. Move on.” She was using the wisdom she gained through her own experiences to help me move forward; to evolve.
“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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43: 18-19
“Move on”. Let it go. Forget the past. Yesterday is over. Evolve and become something even better. Different – but better. It will all work out EXACTLY according to God’s plan…..All those things that my heart knew, but my head wasn’t hearing. Listen friends – God knows your hearts desires and he fully understands your limitations. No matter where you are physically, mentally, financially, emotionally – God has a purpose for you. Keep moving on. Keep evolving.
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: 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 heaven ward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14