On a recent Sunday in church, my pastor preached a sermon from Philippians in the New Testament of the Bible. The topic was about “forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” During his message, he used an illustration to drive his point home: “why windshields are larger than rearview mirrors.” Rearview mirrors are essential because we need to know where we’ve been, and we need to know what’s behind us. But windshields are larger than rearview mirrors because it’s even more important to see what lies ahead, and that’s why windshields are larger than rearview mirrors. Too often we look back instead of looking forward. Frequently we mourn that which was and thus lose sight of that which could be.
The previous year is in our rearview mirror. Now we have the opportunity to look through the windshield for that which is ahead of us this year. What do you want your life to look like by the end of 2020? Here are four categories for you to consider, think through and plan: work, travel, relationships and personal.
Work: Perhaps there are business goals and objectives in your dry cleaning or laundry business that should happen this year. Is there equipment that needs upgrading or installing? There are probably systems, procedures, practices, or policies that might take your company to the next level of success. What would business look like by the end of 2020 if you took the time to think through and plan?
Travel: It’s disheartening how some people knock themselves out throughout the week so that they could visit the neighborhood park on the weekend. Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with going to the park, but there is so much more to see and experience. There must be a country, vacation, or leisurely experience that can make this a year to remember. How would the bucket list look by the end of 2020 if you took the time to think through and plan that special event?
Relationships: Having the right people in our lives is a beautiful thing. Conversely, having the wrong people in our lives can be misery. Life is too short to operate in despair. Cultivate the meaningful relationships you have so that they continue to thrive and grow. Remove or distance yourself from the toxic ones that suck the very breath of life from your being. What would your family, friends and associates look like by the end of 2020 if you took the time to think through and plan ways that make you a better people person?
Personal: I saw this on a bumper sticker: “No one knows you, better than you.” I don’t necessarily agree with this sentiment, but it’s a cute quote. However, if you took an honest self-inventory on the different layers of your life, you could quickly identify your strengths and weaknesses. You know what you’re good at and you know where you are deficient. How would you look like by the end of 2020 if you took the time to think through and plan in areas that you neglected?
I realize that we will occasionally need to check the smaller rearview mirror of the past. It is a good thing to remember the victories and cherish the joys of yesteryear. And sometimes, we might need a reminder of history’s mistakes so that we don’t falter and repeat them. Hopefully, we can fix our gaze through the larger windshield of what 2020 has in store for us. It’s my hope for all of us that our vision for 2020 would be clear and free of any debris that might hinder our forward progress.
