Have you ever noticed the size of the rearview mirror? This small reflective item in a vehicle serves to show the drivers where they have been. It also displays whether someone is approaching their present space. While this mirror is invaluable, a prolonged focus in the rearview mirror creates disruptions to one’s forward progress. Then the only thing one says is shoulda, woulda, coulda.
The Story
In Exodus 12:31-33, we find the children of Israel freed from their slavery in Egypt. They no longer slaved to make bricks. Their conditions drastically changed when Moses the deliverer came to their rescue. Because they didn’t believe they were ready for the Promised Land, they traisped around the wilderness for an extended period of time (Numbers 13). When they were hungry, they nagged Moses for food (Exodus 16:2-3). They longed for Egypt because they had food. They even accused Moses of bringing them to the wilderness to die. Due to their lack of nourishment, they forgot about the years of slavery and the harsh conditions. Unfortunately, they repeated this same lament when they were thirsty. We shoulda stayed in Egypt instead of coming to the wilderness to die (Exodus 17:3).
The Lesson
How many times have we bemoaned the shoulda, woulda, coulda? We focused on yesterday and all of its pleasures while forgetting the struggles that were also present. We can’t focus on today because our gaze centered on the rearview mirror of yesterday. Because of our backward concentration, we don’t see our forward progress. As a result’, we overlook the opportunities that surround us. While the rearview mirror is purposeful, our prolonged gaze keeps us in shoulda, woulda, coulda. Therefore, we can readjust our focus to the future. We look back to see how far we’ve come. Keep the lessons learned and move forward. With our trophies of successful accomplishments and a sense of overcoming, we are equipped to conquer what lies ahead.
