The Gift of the Rear View Mirror

I took this on a near a little church on Long Island, NY. The future is wide through that front window.

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of the Rear View Mirror

When you drive, you know there is a mirror. 

To see things behind, as they grow near.

The mirror says, “Objects in the rear view mirror are closer than they appear.”

You must be watchful so that the car does not draw too near.

Can you drive exclusively with a rear view mirror?

No, you can’t. 

Why can’t you drive solely with that mirror?

Because that mirror represents what is behind.

To really drive, to go far, to get to a particular place. 

You must look forward and strive for safety and drive at a safe pace. 

You learn as you drive to watch those both in front and behind. 

While the rear view mirror is important to keep yourself safe. 

Exclusively looking behind, not forward can be quite unsafe. 

How does the rear view mirror represent life?

Well, dear reader, it serves as a reminder to never lose sight of what is behind. 

But also, you can’t exclusively focus on what was. 

You must look ahead to get to your new and higher cause.

To become a better person, to forgive, to love, to grow.

Never forget to look behind so that you will not run into the past.

But also, look forward and let the rear view mirror teach you about your past.

How to be better, how to forgive, how to pray.

How to improve, How to move, how to be better and better each day. 

That rear view mirror is small because you do need to see what is behind you to navigate with ease. 

The windshield is broad and gives you an unencumbered view of what is ahead, what is safe and what is best for you. 

Today I spoke with a dear friend who I have served within various churches over many years. I was telling him about how life has been quite interesting this year for our clan of folks. He talked about one day we will look at this time in our lives through the lens of the rear view mirror. What did he mean? Well, the past is like a rear view mirror, if you focus on it too much… Well, you never really move on and learn from it. Not only that, you hang on to it and sometimes you develop a sense of unforgiveness. We all do things that we regret. We all are the recipients of things that we would love to forget. If we live there, if we navigate our car from there we will not only not be safe but we will not be able to travel to new and better places. When researching the little mirror that is important in driving, I gleaned that this little mirror helps you see what is behind without having to turn your head. What happens when you turn your head completely when driving? Well, it’s dangerous. It could lead to a wreck. The rear view mirror helps you to look for any potential dangers that are behind. Those little mirrors give you a better vision. To keep the idea going, this little contraption provides fewer blind spots, and safety! When that mac truck of all of your past mistakes comes barreling at you, this little mirror can save your life. You can be better, live better, drive your life better. When the light is low and you can’t see very well, that little mirror helps you see better in the darkness. In the words of Benjamin Dover, “It is okay to look back at the past, just don’t stare.” Let your past teach you, let your past help you to forgive. Let your past help you to drive to a better, more beautiful destination. 

Thank you Jack for the talk.

You can find his books on Amazon

Parables for a Purposeful Walk

Jack Worrill

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

The Case of the Missing Moo-Cow Bell

The Case of the Missing Bumbly Wumbly Bee

The Case of the Missing Wellies

The Case of the Missing Honk Honk

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

Coming soon!

Appalachian Allegory : A Southern Novel