Day 186 or Don't Look Back

Throughout religions, the concept of facing forward into an uncertain future without looking back has been stressed. As Lot brought his wife out of Gomorrah, she looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. Orpheus had doubts that his beautiful Eurydice was actually behind him as he traversed his way up out of the Underworld. He snuck a peek back and she was whisked back by Hades. In other words, Don't Look Back! (By the way, this is pretty good advice if you find yourself in a horror film.)

I am terribly at looking back. Rather than embracing the unknown and considering all the might possibility that the future can hold, I get lost re-running past events over and over. Even if I am running from my metaphorical city of ruins, I will look back just one more time. So yeah, I would absolutely be a pillar of salt.

Imagine if Orpheus could have had faith as he broke out of the dark confines of the Underworld into the sun and fresh air of the living world. He could have lived the rest of days with the love of his life. How many dreams do I inadvertently squash because I can't let go of my past and insecurities and break into the light?

So here I come great unknown. I say goodbye to the burning ruins of my past, the Underworld of my fears. I am going to have a little faith. I made it this far, right? What will a few more steps cost me? They may gain me a lot. They may gain me my life.

So in my favorite '70s radio dedication style: a few words of wisdom from Boston.

Don't look back
A new day is breakin'
It's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind where I get taken
The road is callin'
Today is the day

I can see
It took so long just to realize
I'm much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around, oh yes I will

I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'

It's a bright horizon and I'm awakin' now
Oh I see myself in a brand new way
The sun is shinin'
The clouds are breakin'
'Cause I can't lose now, there's no game to play

I can tell
There's no more time left to criticize
I've seen what I could not recognize
Everthing in my life was leading me on
But I can be strong, oh yes i can

I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
Far away and left behind, left behind

Oh the sun is shinin' *and I wanna go*

Don't look back
A new day is breakin'
It's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind where I get taken
The road is callin'
Today is the day

I can see
It took so long just to realize
I'm much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around, oh yes I will

I finally see the dawn arriving
I see beyond the road I'm driving
Far away and left behind

Don't look back
Don't look back
Don't look back
Don't look back...