Stop Watching the Rear View Mirror

Have you ever had “Rear View Mirror Syndrome?” Don’t know what that is? I guess it could be confused with “Rubber-Necking.” But not exactly. I just made it up.

Rear View Mirror Syndrome, in my book, is looking back as you’re moving forward. Of course, if you’re constantly looking in the rear view mirror, you won’t see where you’re going and you might miss something in front of you. In fact, you might miss a LOT of things. You could even wind up crashing into something if you aren’t careful. Then again, you may just end up crashing altogether.

I had this problem of watching my rear view mirror. I was always looking back on what I could have done better, what I should have done better, how I could have, should have, and didn’t avoid mishaps in my life. I had a lot of regrets. But the difference now than then is that I have learned to get over Rear View Mirror Syndrome.

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead… ~Philippians 3:13

It’s that whole “Forgiveness” thing. We know that God forgives us. But what we fail to recognize is that when he forgives, he forgets! But the saddest thing yet is that WE don’t forgive OR forget. We maintain that Rear View Mirror Syndrome. Not only with ourselves, but with others.

The saddest thing for me to see are those who simply will not let anything go. They continue looking in the Rear View Mirror of life, watching reruns of things long gone, things they refuse to let go of. What’s more, looking in the rear view mirror doesn’t give you a true picture. Because everything in the rear view mirror is backwards, obscure, and tend to get a bit foggy. And most people neglect to read the writing on the mirror before looking: “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Maybe that’s why we crash while watching.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ~Hebrews 12:15

I know people who have Rear View Mirror Syndrome. They constantly bring up things of the past. In so doing, they cause a lot of arguments and hurts while dredging up things better left alone. Because each time it’s dredged up, it is distorted more and more until it no longer looks like it did when it happened twenty years ago.

But you, man of God, flee from all of this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ~1 Timothy 6:11

Forgiveness. The best remedy for Rear View Mirror Syndrome. As the Christmas holiday approaches, maybe this is the year to lay to rest your RMS…. and

“press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 3:14 (changes in brackets, mine)

Shelley Wilburn

Shelley Wilburn has been writing since the age of twelve. She loves stories and adventures, and often finds herself getting into mischief with any one of her six grandchildren. She has written several articles and devotionals over the years for various newspapers, women's magazines, and newsletters. She has also co-authored devotionals. Shelley began writing full-time in 2012 after being healed of over 40 years of depression and anxiety. Using her love of writing, and wearing mismatched socks, Shelley has developed a unique ministry of encouraging others using biblical truths and stories from her own personal life. When not writing, you can find Shelley and her husband of over 30 years, D.A. zipping down the road in their newest adventure-maker, a bright orange, Mustang convertible Shelley has laughingly dubbed The Pony.