Never be overshadowed by your past, leave those thoughts where they belong, in the past. Let the past be past. Sometimes you really need to speak to someone, to open up and to let those thoughts out. That´s one of the healing effects of what Catholics call “the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance or Confession)

Fr. Valentine Umoh

Sometimes we feel we are the worst of persons because of the mistakes we made in the past. How terrible is that mistake? Abortion? Murder? Deception? Impregnated an innocent girl? Violated someone in your care? Rape (as predator or victim)? False accusation? A street prostitute? Murderous envy? A womanizer? Just how terrible is your past? Well, you may need to read about other persons´ past and how they were able to overcome fixation and recreated a better present and future for themselves. Sometimes we get fixed in the past because of our inability to forgive ourselves. We feel so terrible and dirty inside. This leads to depression and contemplating suicide may set in. Never be overshadowed by your past, leave those thoughts where they belong, in the past. Let the past be past. Sometimes you really need to speak to someone, to open up and to let those thoughts out. That´s one of the healing effects of what Catholics call “the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance or Confession).” Past thoughts of guilt and filth when not let out could destroy us from within.

Examples: The Apostle Paul and Saint Augustine – Bishop of Hippo are few of the many examples of people who had a very terrible past. But once they have made their decision to forge ahead, they never looked back nor allowed their past selves to overshadow their present. One cannot say that they erased their past from their memories. No! They just didn’t allow it to influence their present perception of reality. Today, one-third of the books that make up the New Testament of the Christian Bible is attributed to Paul´s missionary strides and apostleship. The Confessions of Saint Augustine is one of the most read books on Christian Spirituality among his other works like the City of God. Both of them overcame their past and became Saints of God in Heaven.

Lessons: You don’t need to get fixed or stocked in your terrible past. The past is past. It was a preparatory stage. You have learnt your lesson. Or maybe you have tasted the other side of life. The present is the opportunity to cross over to the other side of destiny. Maybe you were such a terrible bully in your high school, or a womanizer (“manizer” for the girls) in your university breaking the fragile hearts of many girls (and boys), you were such a hardened thief in the hostel or an amateur cultist. You feel your present misfortunes are because of those past mistakes, the guilt wants to break you down and lead you to frustration and despair. Dear friend, wake up! It´s time to let go. Make a decision today, speak to a confidant (if you are a Christian or Catholic, meet a Priest), get a counsellor, clean your tears, it´s time to move on. That you are still alive today means you have the opportunity to right the wrongs and still realize your dreams.

Wake up!

It´s time to let go!

Leave the past in the past

You still have today and tomorrow

It is time to pursue your dreams…

You are now an experienced traveller in the journey of life!

#inspireme

#mystory

#letThePastBePast