Reminders

As I walk the streets of cities I have been to before, I find myself reliving old memories and experiences.  Even as I fly over cities that I have spend time in, I catch myself reflecting on lessons from yesterday.  For the most part the memories are good ones.  In every case, the Spirit seems to find a way to take life and what happens and use it as a tool in tugging my heart towards truth and Hope.  I find it odd, but reminders are powerful markers that remain in front of us as guideposts if we are willing to see with candor.
Sometimes even the obvious is not.  I found myself looking at a construction site, mourning the loss of the buildings that once were integral to New York's lower east side.  Even as I struggled with the overwhelming sense of loss within, I realized that I have never seen this site when it was not a construction site.  Granted there was one part of the site that had a building still standing.  However, the heart of the site has always been a large pit!  I have no idea what was there before.  My idealistic memories have created a story filled with myth for so long that I no longer recognize its fictional nature.  Even as I began to laugh at myself, I realized that many of the characters in my virtual world have little resemblance to the truth filled reality that you and I live in.
As today dawns, I find myself turning an interesting corner.  I want to deal with truth not fiction.  I want to take one writer's words to heart.  “Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you.  Our ancestor David is dead and buried-his tomb is in plain sight today.”  (Acts 2.29)  I can struggle to look at life without filters, knowing that truth filled reminders will guide me to a better future.  I can embrace the present, letting go of my myths and fictions.  I can follow God instead of trying to be my own guide.