Articles
Nostalgic
Every once in a while I get nostalgic. Not melancholy, just nostalgic.
Sometimes it is prompted by a visit with my parents. Sometimes a visit with one of my heroes. Sometimes it is motivated by simply watching our children raise their children. It is amazing to see our children go through the same things we went through with them. What goes around comes around. Then, at times nostalgia comes when a birthday rolls around or that of another.
Recently some our young people have gotten married; others are engaged. I think about our beginning. The excitement, the anticipation. I think, “Do they know what is ahead of them?” There is no way they could know. We did not know where the path of life would take us. I never imagined I would be where I am, doing what I am doing.
Further, nostalgia comes when I think about those who are between the ages of 25-45. I hear them begin to question basic, fundamental Bible truths. Truths about how authority is established. I see a lack of understanding about how communication takes place, in general. Questioning truths about instrumental music, the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins, about the church and her work and truths about grace. It’s usually nothing new. The same thing happened in the 1970’s and years before. Sadly, many young people leave the Lord, all the while thinking they have found some new enlightenment about God.
Then I am reminded that for all the questions that have ever been raised about any Bible question, the Lord’s church still progresses and continues. No one person and no one question is going to stop what God has purposed in His church. God’s word will not return to Him void.
Also, I become nostalgic when I remember there is nothing new under the sun. Generations have come and gone. Yet people have been successful in life and spiritually along the way, too. Struggles of youth can bring maturity and understanding with age. They grow up and serve their generation for good. For all I might have gone through with my kids, and you with yours, many, many of them love the Lord and serve Him and others selflessly too. They make you smile real big!
Too many times nostalgia leads down a dark road. But there is much to be positive about nostalgically as well. It is so easy to reflect only on the bad, negative, and failures. That is such a downer! But it is encouraging to think back through the years about the successes, growth and maturity observed in many as well.
Nostalgia. Great to visit, but I don’t want to live there. I wouldn’t change a thing… okay maybe a few things.
