One luxury that has quickly become a necessity to me is the back up camera in my car. My old neck and back don’t twist around like they used to, and it sure is great to have a clear view of what I can’t easily see behind me before I reverse the car.

Wouldn’t it be silly, though, if once out of the garage or the parking spot, I kept driving with that little spot of vision and guidance? It would be a wreck in a hurry!

There’s a reason that a car has a lot bigger windshield than it does a rear view mirror. Looking back helps us backtrack safely, and is often necessary for a change in direction. But it doesn’t really get us anywhere!

As we begin a new year, it’s useful to look back at our past, to see where we have been and what mistakes we made, and what we have accomplished. We can see where we need to repent, to forgive, to refocus.

 And then it’s time to look ahead, shift gears, and move on in our mortal journey. Great and wonderful times, as well as scary ones, await us. If we focus ahead and move with faith, it’s going to be a wonderful trip!

~Nita Smith