Don't Dwell on the past

 My friends, I don't feel I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. All of us who are mature should think in this same way.

Philippians 3:13-15

The most common type of car accident is called a “sideswipe.” It most often happens when you try to navigate without looking ahead. Your eyes are distracted by the rearview mirror or the view to one side of your car. Distractions in life can sideline us just as they do on the road. Paul looked at life as a race with a prize. In a race, a driver has no time to dwell on what’s in the rearview mirror. Race cars often don’t even have side mirrors. Professional drivers watch the road ahead intently. In fact, they have to look far ahead of where they are. They only glance rapidly at other cars or the terrain. When Paul said he “forget(s) what is behind (in order to) struggle for what is ahead,” (Philppians 3:13) it was in that spirit — it’s not as if he literally forgot his past, learning nothing from it. But he did not dwell on life’s rear-view mirror. He was fixated on that prize far ahead of him. If you really want to win, you must consistently do the things that are part of winning. Set your priorities first and maintain them. You don’t want to spend too much time on things that distract you or keep your mind fixated on your past.