“As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”
-Proverbs 26:11

This proverb is definitely a contender for “most likely to trigger one’s gag reflex”-and not just because of the mental image.

The second reason for gagging is the awful realization that I do this. All the time.

Sometimes, late at night, I stare at the ceiling and cringe at all the gag-worthy things I’ve done in my life. All the folly. How could I have ever been so…dumb?

Here’s the kicker. At each age, as I’m looking back at my life, I’m convinced I’ve put all that folly behind me. I compare myself now to me back then and conclude that I’m much more mature now. I’ve finally got it all together.

And then it hits me. What will future me think about present me? If the pattern continues, I will someday look back at right now and roll my eyes at how clueless I was then. Or now. Whatever.

That’s what really make me lose sleep. What stupid things am I doing right now? Am I screwing up at my job? Am I making bad decisions? What difficulty is on the horizon that I’m too naive to anticipate?

Will my tombstone read: ‘Here lies Mitch. He never quite got it.’ Or worse: ‘He never lost his taste for vomit.’ (Eww)

But living in fear of our past mistakes—or the ones we’re making now—isn’t the life we’re called to. Paul suggests an alternative. In Philippians, he says:

“…one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 3: 13b-14

Paul’s words remind us that the way forward isn’t about dwelling on our mistakes but pressing on toward something greater. The true folly is living in regret for the past. Wisdom comes from experience, but that doesn’t mean attaining perfection. No, we are called to keep striving for the goal of a full life in Christ. We strain forward for that, keeping our eyes on the prize.

So, take a deep breath and quiet down the reflex to return to the scene of your previous messes. The future may be messy, too, but every day is an opportunity to meet life head on with faith, wisdom, and courage…

instead of just

regurgitating the past.

Have a great week,

Mitch