ReWriting Our Lives

At present, I’m editing a book published in 2006 for republishing. It’s painful: did I really write THAT? It’s instructive: I’m in such a different place now.

Once we reach adulthood, it’s generally understood that we’ve arrived. Time to sit down and stay put. But reading my writings from years past, I see movement. Once, a seminary professor gave our class an exercise. “Divide your life into decades. Give each decade a chapter title. Then, with each passing decade, revisit your life story and retitle as needed.” As our life lengthens, as we move along, even past events take on a different perspective. They gain new meaning.

Our present constantly rewrites our past and moves us into the future. If we’re awake, if we’re attuned to ourselves and to what is occurring around us, we head somewhere. There’s no need to expect to be who we were ten years ago—or even ten minutes ago: no need to picture our adult selves as spiritual couch potatoes.

How have you changed? How might you write and rewrite your life as you move into the future? Share your thoughts.