The Good Old Days

Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. - Ecclesiastes 7:10

It was wonderful seeing so many new and old friends last night. It makes me reminisce and remember "the good old days." It would be so easy to get caught up in this unhealthily. Oh, yes, there were great times - small group runs to Sebastian Joe's, a six-night-a-week social life, free bread, sushi without worry of the cost, bike rides to Duluth, and hours just hanging out.

But there's a reason "the good old days" is in quotes - they weren't any better than "the good new days." Our memories have this wonderful ability to forget the bad stuff from the past, or at least we forget those things when we're doing this pondering of the past. What about the loneliness I had in spite of the happening social life? What about the job I hated and all the travel? What about all the sin the Lord has overcome in my life since then? What about my wife, whom I had not yet met, or my daughter, who was not even alive yet? And what about all the friends whom I see regularly now? Aren't those relationships special and worthy of some real-time reminiscing?

I guess all I can say is it was great seeing my old friends. They all have a very special place in my heart. I am who I am in large part because of them. I don't miss my past though. I'm glad I'm living in the present. This is the best year of my life. . .so far.