Looking to the Past to Guide the Future

Since my youngest daughter recently returned to college, I’ve become my husband’s hired help.

Not having grown up on a farm, I’ve learned a lot of life lessons over the past years.

One lesson is:

Looking behind is necessary not only when driving a tractor, but in life.

Some people might proclaim the only way to success is to never look back.

I believe we have much to learn from the past, whether from our personal life experiences or of those who have gone before.

Lessons From the Farm

Being a transplant to the farm, my explanations of farm-life are pretty basic.

Here are two observations:

1. When driving a tractor, you are usually pulling another huge piece of equipment behind you, such as a rake, baler, disc ripper, plow, etc.

2. Tractors are built for men.

When I sit in a tractor, my feet don’t always reach the floor of the cab. (Yes, you may laugh).

Driving over particularly rough ground, I’ve been known to “take to the air,” as I bounce, thump and fly around the inside of the cab while driving back and forth across the field.

My husband doesn’t have this problem. He weighs more, and his feet are firmly planted on the floor.

All I can do is grip the steering wheel, and keep the tractor moving forward.

But, lest you forget, there’s a lot of activity going on behind me.

Remember, a tractor is usually pulling something important behind it.

Though I know how to drive in a straight line, the fact that I am continually looking behind me to make sure the hay is feeding into the equipment correctly, and the machinery is functioning properly means I run the risk of getting off course.

It’s a constant adjusting, re-positioning, re-aligning, correcting, looking from back to front adventure!

But, I need to look back.

Because the feedback I receive from looking behind guides my forward movement.

Life Application

So too, in life there are times when we may feel unstable, and uncertain. 

Maybe our feet have been swept out from under us. 

Maybe we have a hard time getting our feet firmly planted beneath us.

Perhaps we’re getting bounced around in all directions feeling as if we’re getting whiplash, or hitting our heads upon the ceiling.

We may be covered in dust, and dirt feeling sore, tired, and worn out.

But, we continue to hold on to the steering wheel, keeping that tractor moving forward, adjusting, and course- correcting as we go.

Though we may not feel very beautiful, or put together, the amazing thing is, we are still making progress!

The ability to course correct comes from the lessons we’ve learned from the past.

The key is to not dwell in the past, but rather to take the lessons learned, and move forward with confidence in creating your beautiful, course-corrected, fulfilling life!

With love,