|
|
|
Planning you future ahead of
time isn't just for tellers
|
This past week with the tragic death of Princess Diana the world
is faced with the stark reality that even princesses die. Sadly,
the cause of her death was apparently an all too common case of
drunk driving.
I can imagine that had the chauffeur known that he was soon to
be dead he may have drank less, driven slower and stayed within
the lines. I can't help but wonder how many of us will come to the
end of our lives, look back and say "if only..."
Dean Bill Shuler encapsulized this concept in a sermon coined
"Hindsight in a foresight position." This concept can
be illustrated by the example of the chauffeur. Had he known, he
would have done things differently.
This, I am convinced, is why many elderly people are grumpy.
They see at their stage in life all of their mistakes and missed
opportunities and then they see younger people unwittingly make
the same mistakes. When they do try to warn and give counsel, they
are shunned and called "out of touch." This is why they
so adamantly and eloquently tell us from the front porch rocker
"get off my lawn!"
I called Dean Shuler to confirm that I had interpreted his message
on "Hindsight" correctly. Herein is an example of the
concept in practice. I saw ahead of time the trouble I could have
got in if I had used an idea without permission and then misapplied
it (I would like to think that I can learn from my mistakes), so
I called and now I won't have that regret.
Shuler explained this concept as putting yourself at the end
of your life, and looking back. With the same attitude an Historian
would have when they look at your life - unemotional, and objective.
From this position (in the future, but really in the present) you
can observe what you would do differently, and when you see this
you can go back to the present and do it right.
I hope I didn't just lose everybody but the Trekkies on campus.
If I did, go to your local Trekkie and ask for a brief catechism
on the theory and practice of time travel. When you are able to
make up some excuse to leave (citing the need for a whole psyche
is one idea), and return to this column you will appreciate it so
much the more. You will also learn a valuable lesson - never talk
to Trekkies. Strangers? Well, it depends on the circumstances.
Anyway back to reality. (I find myself saying this a lot, and
it worries me not a little - being interpreted - I'm worried).
As mission's director, Shuler first shared this concept. He would
talk with the mission teams before they went out on summer missions.
He'd tell them that before they knew it they would be back from
missions. He would ask them to put themselves at the end of their
trip and look back, what were some of the regrets that they might
see. Then he'd ask them to come back to the present where they could
wipe out the regrets before they happen.
Now obviously the only real hindsight is 20/20. There will be
many things that we cannot account for and that only God controls
but we can do some deduction and eliminate all of the simple cause
and effect stuff. For example: driving drunk is less than genius,
failing school due to laziness, ......?
As I finish up my college career (hopefully for my next career
I will get paid), I am reminded of a column that I read as a freshmen
on this same topic. The writer of the article, Rebekah Johnson,
seemed to be very emotional (the next year when I worked with her
I came to know that that is just the way God made her - Hi Bek!)
as she recalled her fond experiences and exhorted her readers to
make the most of their time at ORU. She said that the time just
flew by for her, and would do the same for every one of us.
At the time it didn't mean that much to me, but it stayed with
me and for the next couple of years I reminded myself that time,
well time is tickin' away.
Tick tock. Tickitee...
I am unable to break out into song right now because I'm under
a court order to refrain from the illegal destruction of copyrighted
material. Namely, they don't want me to sing in public.
The truth is that time, and our lives will pass very quickly.
It is time now to make some decisions and soberly look at what we
desire our life to account for.
"Character is developed," Shuler emphasized. "It
doesn't just happen, or fall in our lap." Our future and approaching
it with a sobriety and a wisdom "comes down to daily decisions."
As I round out this column I just want to put forth a simple
question. What do you want? What do you want from this year? From
college as a whole? Now, what are you doing to see that accomplished?
"So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart
of wisdom," Psalm 90:12. The NIV says well, basically the same
thing.
|
|
|
