The Rearview Mirror

What is it about the rearview mirror that fascinates us?

I remember settling into the drivers seat as a new driver (quite reluctantly I might add, my mom had to do bribe me to learn to drive) and realizing that for the first time in my life, I could see behind me without turning my head.

I can't tell you how many times in my early driving years I nearly (and once did) get in an accident because I was fixated on that rearview mirror.

"Quick glances" my parents would tell me.

And yet, it was so easy to become fixated on the view behind me, on what had already been passed.

Life can be like this, especially for those of us who tend to be more reflective and contemplative in nature. Don't get me wrong, the rearview mirror has saved me more than once, both physically in the car and mentally, spiritually and emotionally in life.

 Like hearing the screeching of brakes behind you and looking up to see a car coming careening towards you in your mirror, allowing you to brace for the impact that you now know is coming, the life experience in your rearview mirror allows you to see red flags and hear the warning signs and brace for impact. The more life experience you have, the more easily you see the impact coming.

This was demonstrated to me a few years back. We were on the other side of town for my youngest brothers wedding. On our way back to the hotel after the rehearsal dinner, My husband, the kids, my nephew and I all the sudden heard the screeching of brakes behind us. I immediately grabbed the handle in front of us to brace myself before the large "thump" hit us from behind. None of the kids braced though. Our son slammed his head into the seat in front of him and the others were pretty rattled. They didn't yet know the warning signs, life had not taught them that lesson yet.

But it's also easy to get your eyes stuck in the rearview and have your early detection system become a danger of it's own. Whether it is unforgiveness that keeps you from moving on, a hurt, habit or hang up from your past, or a wound inflicted by another that is now festering, it's so easy to glance up and then get stuck backward.

It's not that recent past events, or maybe far past events that were never dealt with, don't have to be processed. It's healthy to every once in a while, do a thorough searching of the past in order to let it go and move on. Sometimes this takes longer than others. Sometimes it is a quick checkup and sometimes it is a thorough heart and soul workup. Sometimes it takes only a few minutes to process and move on. Sometimes it takes months or even longer.

 But you do it in the quiet space. When the car is in park and you aren't moving. And then you move on, with only quick, thorough glances in the rearview mirror.

You have to spend time processing, working through the things in your rearview mirror. It will take a while. There have been seasons of my life were months could pass before I felt like my heart was healed and ready to move on. Before I could give and serve others again, I knew I needed a period of rest, where I could take the time to process and heal. The wounds weren't surface level this time, they were deep and long, reaching to the core of who I was.

And then, after some time has passed, the Spirit begins whispering in my ear that it's time to look forwards again. That there is hope for the future. That maybe He isn't done using me. That my value is found in Him and not in other's opinions. He isn't finished with me yet. It's time to move on.

Then a new beginning is birthed. A new place where God will use me in fresh and new ways to serve Him by serving others. In these seasons, I'm never entirely sure what that looks like, but I'm finding hope that I will be used. That I can now use only quick glances in my rearview mirror once again.

If you find yourself stuck staring in the rearview mirror, be encouraged. Pull over, rest and stare intently there, healing the wounds of the past. Eventually you will get the courage to take a deep breath, put the car in drive again and begin to move forward again, taking only quick glances into the past.