The Ghosts of the Past

Offenses will come. Each and every one of us will encounter people and resulting scenarios which leave us offended, and at times even stunned.

As a counselor I have interacted with folks who have been brutally impacted by negative words and deeds perpetrated by sometimes well-meaning, but often ill-meaning friends, relatives and strangers. Some of my clients have been almost irrevocably impacted by what someone has referred to as “the ghosts of the past.” (Ghosts which continue to haunt them).

Not only have the words and deeds of the past limited their emotional and relational fulfillment, but God’s very plans for their lives. Like going to sleep with your feet in a wet grey mixture only to wake up to find out its concrete.

As a counselor I encourage people to find new and better ways to respond to their own personal history, and the trigger mechanisms which “knock on their doors.”

I often use the following illustration.

You walk into a room, and like a fly on the wall you watch this young fellow as he flicks a nearby light switch while looking up at the overhead light. Again and again he flicks the switch. Again and again it doesn’t come on. And when you finally shake your head and walk out of the room the young guy is still flicking the switch.

You come back a full fifty years later, walk into the room, and notice a familiar figure flicking a light switch. The man is aged now, and stooped, but its definitely the same guy. He looks up at the overhead light waiting for it to come on.

He doesn’t check the fuse box. He doesn’t replace the light bulb. He doesn’t call an electrician. And when you finally turn and leave, the room is still dark.

My friends, this is no way to respond to a light which isn’t coming on, nor more importantly, the ghosts of the pasts.

Offenses will certainly come, but woe to them who are content to allow past offenses to control the remainder of their lives on this planet.

 By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 7