Garth Heckman 

The David Alliance

Your past knows where you are, it will come and get you at some time. Dan Little

Admit your past to those who you have offended.

Don’t make excuses, don’t make up reasons for your behavior… don’t tell them you have changed. Just admit your behavior, apologize if you need to and let your life speak for itself from that point on. 

You don’t need to know why you did it… 

You were young, you didn’t think, you were insecure… it don’t matter. Just admit it and move on. 

If others want you to relive it, or continue to carry it… don’t.

The Monk and his protege… they were traveling for a day and could not talk from sun up till sundown. They came upon a young maiden who was standing in in front of a river… she was crying. The monk asked her what was wrong… she said I need to get to my best friends wedding, but I have no way to cross the river without ruining my dress. The monk picked her up and carried her across. The protege was very disturbed. Hours went by and finally the sun went down… the protoge could barely contain himself… pointing out that the monk had talked and not only that had touched a women… the monk smiled and said, yes I talked and picked her up and put her down… but you have still been carrying her all day and are still carrying her now. 

Accept it, receive Gods forgiveness and move on. Jesus asks Peter, do you love me? 

Yes, feed my sheep. Move forward. 

What does Jesus do here? You may miss it. He does not let Peter push it to the side, he makes him deal with it. He forces him to face it and let it go. You must make yourself deal with it once and move on. 

From here, now you can move forward and work on yourself and your mission. Jesus calls Peter to work on himself… the true nature of a disciple is to continue to grow in Christ…and go build the kingdom. 

And in doing so you are now working with others who are working on themselves and working on the kingdom. The best thing you can do with your past is hang in a circle with people who have a past and have decided to move on - build themselves and build the kingdom. I find great comfort in knowing people who have a past - have dealt with it, EVEN not tried to hide from it… but now focus on growth and kingdom mindset. 

Finally… help others move on by sharing your story. Your mistakes, your growth and your acceptance of them in their time of change.