Looking Back

Last night, I watched “Sayonara,” an old classic Marlon Brando movie.  My husband patiently listened to me as I repeated all the Japanese words I heard in the movie.  I turned to him and said, “I know that word!  ‘Sukoshi’ means ‘a little bit’!”  I repeated, “domo arigato gozaimasu” and “do itashimashite” and “konnichiwa.”  I was proud of myself that I could remember the words and how to pronounce them.  I studied Japanese for two years when I was in my 20’s and I traveled to Japan on a business trip.  Over the years, I have wanted to study the language again and pick up where I left off, but I never got around to it.

During the movie, I suddenly felt a deep regret that I had not continued studying Japanese.  Thirty years have gone by… if I had studied the language even just a little bit (“sukoshi”) over the last 30 years, I would speak Japanese fluently by now!!  If only I could turn back the hands of time and do things differently.

I wondered if I should look back and see if I could identify any other things out of my past that I wish I had done.  Were there other dreams or desires that I had abandoned years ago?  I took out a pen and paper and decided to finish the sentence… “When I was younger, I always wanted to ___________________, but I never did.”

I was surprised how easily I thought of things to put on the list.  Of course, “Learn Japanese” is the first thing on the list.  The second is “Play Piano.”  I can still play, but I have forgotten some of the songs I had memorized and would love to re-learn them (my favorite was “The Entertainer” from the movie “The Sting”).  In addition to the two “retro” goals, I wrote six more things on the list.

I titled my new list, “Retro Goals” and put “Sukoshi” under the title as a reminder to add a little bit of slow and steady effort into learning or practicing the things on the list.  In 10 years, perhaps I’ll be able to look back at some accomplishment in those areas, rather than feel a sense of regret!

I have been keeping up with my 2017 goal of Bible verse memorization, so let me give you some verses to encourage your heart today, written here from memory.  Read the verses slowly, out loud:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT):

16- That is why we never give up.

      Though our bodies are dying,

      our spirits are being renewed every day.

17- For our present troubles are small

      and won’t last very long.

      Yet they produce for us a glory

      that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

18- So we don’t look at the troubles

      we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze

      on things that cannot be seen.

      For the things we see now will soon be gone,

      but the things we cannot see will last forever.

      (Emphasis added.)

Devotion

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you.  Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.  Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.  Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.  Psalm 25:4-7

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, show us your way.  Reveal to us the deep hidden things in our hearts.  Help us to slow down in our busy lives and still our hearts, and listen to you.  Refresh our spirits and give us direction, so we can move forward, little by little, or by great leaps, in accordance with your will.  We love you, Lord God, Our Creator who knows our hearts!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

© 2017 Linda Lijewski