Don't Look Back! You Aren't Going That Way!

What’s She Thinking?  “Don’t look back”. 
     Don’t look back.  It seems like it is usually good advice. It was good advice when God gave it to Lot and Lot’s wife.  It was good advice when Don Henley gave it to the Boys of Summer.  It’s advice you should generally consider taking, so you don’t waste time with regrets.  
     I usually spend my Sabbath time on the tractor, moving limbs and branches as I build brush piles for wildlife habitats here on Anvil Farm. It’s my time alone, time to reflect, pray and revel in the glory that is God’s world.  But even Sabbath time can be derailed. 
     It was the perfect temperature. I was wearing my cool prescription aviator sunglasses. Wearing my Arkansas Razorback visor. Even remember to put sunscreen on my hands. I was rocking this thing called life. It was a really great day… until I looked back.
     First, the chain came off my chainsaw. I pulled the tractor up under a tree, just to see if I could get the chain back on and tight without tools.  I could not.  I was tired, and thought, “Well, I should probably go back to the house and rest for a little bit anyway.”  As I am getting ready to go back to the house I looked back and saw one bigger branch I would like to move. Yep, I got greedy. Just couldn’t leave it alone.
     I backed up and turned the tractor to get to the branch but couldn’t back up far enough- almost like I was wedged up against something. I turned around to discover a branch was caught against my roll bar. Unfortunately, at that moment, the branch that was holding THAT BRANCH back broke. And then… it happened. I got a pretty big slap upside the head.
     After I put my glasses back on and felt to see if I still had my front teeth, I turned the tractor off and set the brake (safety first, don’t you know!) and called Jeff to tell him I might need some help, and without any more information than that, he drove his truck down to get me, so I could assess the damage I caused.
     I went and took a shower, put on clean clothes, and continued on with my personal inventory. Nose- bleeding but not broken. Cheekbone- swelling, probably bruised but not broken, definitely scraped, some swelling. Chin- swelling, scraped and tender. Teeth- all good, and I didn’t even bite my tongue. Left eye-all good, right eye- probably fine. Then I realized I was bleeding! From my face! With bark!
     Two and one half hours later, I was the proud owner of one stitch, a fresh tetanus shot and a prescription for an antibiotic.
     And all of this was because I didn’t listen to good advice.  I looked back, even though I knew I should really just move forward and get some rest, to be ready for the next round.  I don't know about you, but I look back and question myself a lot, wondering why I made that choice, or why this event happened.  Yes, it's good to recap and consider options for the next time something should occur, but don't trust your hindsight.  Hindsight gets credit for being 20/20, but it also tends to be myopic, staring too closely at things you would like to change, and blurring out all the good.   
     And now, I am getting for the next round in ministry.  June 25 will be my last Sunday at Manor United Methodist Church.  I will be serving in the pulpit at Decker United Methodist Church, on Decker Lane.  It's exciting to look forward, and it's good to enjoy where you've been.  But always, we, as Christians, as we live our lives, we must remember, we are helping bring about the kindom of God on earth, the kindom that is now and the kindom that will be.  Ever onward, ever upward my friends.  
Salt, Light and Love,
​Pastor Elizabeth

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