Back in the day, a popular television series titled Wagon Train was noted for the catchphrase: “Forward Ho!” This was said whenever the members comprising the wagon train would set out on their respective journey. It was also said by my wife and me as we set out for our journey over the recent Christmas holiday.
This latter journey encompassed nearly 1100 miles in six days, as we first traveled from East Tennessee over to Nashville to see our children, then down to Alabama to see my sisters and their families, and then on to Atlanta to see my mother, all before heading back to Alabama, and then back to Middle Tennessee, and then once again back home to East Tennessee.
Of course, it goes without saying that the overwhelming majority of this trip took place as my vehicle was heading forward. Only a very miniscule percentage of the trip took place while my vehicle was in reverse. In fact, what few times the vehicle was in reverse was only for the necessary purpose either of backing out of a driveway or a parking spot.
Think about it for a moment. Vehicles are designed to go forward, not backward. While they have reverse gears, these do not allow them to proceed in that direction for any sustained period of time or speed. Conversely, most modern vehicles are simply intended to go forward. And their very structure demonstrates this.
Most vehicles generally have only one reverse gear; but often have as many as three or four forward gears. The driver’s seats always face forward. With the exception of one or two obscure models (such as the unforgettable Subaru Brat and those old model Ford and Chevrolet station wagons), the passenger seats do as well.
The front windshield is normally much larger than the rear window. The rear view is normally only afforded through very small mirrors inside and out. And at night, the headlights illuminate about ten to twenty times as far out to the front as do the backup lights.
Add all of this up and you soon reach the obvious conclusion: automotive vehicles are designed to go forward, not backward. And the same is true for human beings!
As 2017 unfolds, I challenge you to go forward, not backward. I challenge you to focus more on what is ahead of you than what is behind you. On where you need to go, instead of where you have been.
Sure, you may need to stop on occasion. You may even need to back up a brief time or two. But do not spend the next twelve months headed in the wrong direction. It is not safe and you will simply never get where you need to be going!
Instead, as the bumper sticker on my sister’s car used to state: “Get in, Sit Down, Buckle Up, and Hold On”! Having done this, then floor it! Put the pedal to the metal and go! Make progress in your life! Get somewhere! And in the process, glorify the One Who designed you for that purpose to begin with!
In the first chapter of the Apostle Mark’s New Testament Gospel (verse 38), Jesus says to His disciples: “Let us go somewhere…” I echo that sentiment! Let’s all go somewhere in life in the coming year. Let’s all make some progress with the life God has given us! Surely realizing our God-given potential in this way will glorify the very God Who gave us eyes that look to the front and feet that move us in that direction.
In fact, if you will but take a moment to listen, you may just hear a voice from Heaven gently calling out and saying, “Forward Ho!” If you do, then by all means… “Head ‘em up and move ‘em out!”
Happy trails, my friend!
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/mark/1-38.htm.
This latter journey encompassed nearly 1100 miles in six days, as we first traveled from East Tennessee over to Nashville to see our children, then down to Alabama to see my sisters and their families, and then on to Atlanta to see my mother, all before heading back to Alabama, and then back to Middle Tennessee, and then once again back home to East Tennessee.
Of course, it goes without saying that the overwhelming majority of this trip took place as my vehicle was heading forward. Only a very miniscule percentage of the trip took place while my vehicle was in reverse. In fact, what few times the vehicle was in reverse was only for the necessary purpose either of backing out of a driveway or a parking spot.
Think about it for a moment. Vehicles are designed to go forward, not backward. While they have reverse gears, these do not allow them to proceed in that direction for any sustained period of time or speed. Conversely, most modern vehicles are simply intended to go forward. And their very structure demonstrates this.
Most vehicles generally have only one reverse gear; but often have as many as three or four forward gears. The driver’s seats always face forward. With the exception of one or two obscure models (such as the unforgettable Subaru Brat and those old model Ford and Chevrolet station wagons), the passenger seats do as well.
The front windshield is normally much larger than the rear window. The rear view is normally only afforded through very small mirrors inside and out. And at night, the headlights illuminate about ten to twenty times as far out to the front as do the backup lights.
Add all of this up and you soon reach the obvious conclusion: automotive vehicles are designed to go forward, not backward. And the same is true for human beings!
As 2017 unfolds, I challenge you to go forward, not backward. I challenge you to focus more on what is ahead of you than what is behind you. On where you need to go, instead of where you have been.
Sure, you may need to stop on occasion. You may even need to back up a brief time or two. But do not spend the next twelve months headed in the wrong direction. It is not safe and you will simply never get where you need to be going!
Instead, as the bumper sticker on my sister’s car used to state: “Get in, Sit Down, Buckle Up, and Hold On”! Having done this, then floor it! Put the pedal to the metal and go! Make progress in your life! Get somewhere! And in the process, glorify the One Who designed you for that purpose to begin with!
In the first chapter of the Apostle Mark’s New Testament Gospel (verse 38), Jesus says to His disciples: “Let us go somewhere…” I echo that sentiment! Let’s all go somewhere in life in the coming year. Let’s all make some progress with the life God has given us! Surely realizing our God-given potential in this way will glorify the very God Who gave us eyes that look to the front and feet that move us in that direction.
In fact, if you will but take a moment to listen, you may just hear a voice from Heaven gently calling out and saying, “Forward Ho!” If you do, then by all means… “Head ‘em up and move ‘em out!”
Happy trails, my friend!
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/mark/1-38.htm.