Lantern On The Stern

Lantern on the Stern

Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. . . . This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:6-7, 9

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the English poet, is usually a little deep for me. I hate to admit that; I can almost hear my English-teacher mother sigh as I do. But I at least understand this quote: “The light which experience gives is a lantern on the stern, which shines only on the waves behind us.” That truth hits home for me.

That’s why football coaches like me review the film after each game or practice. Most of our focus every week is on our upcoming opponent, but on Mondays we examine the previous game. It isn’t that we want to focus on what players did wrong, although it may feel that way to them sometimes. No, we look at what they have done so we can correct the mistakes and play better next time. The review is a teaching tool. We study our experiences so we know not to repeat certain parts of them.

I suspect that the courage and insights which Joshua gained standing alongside Moses proved invaluable to him as he was tapped by God to succeed Moses in leading the Israelites. He had seen the experiences of Israel in the wilderness. I’m sure he benefited from the reservoir of research and experience not only for the knowledge he would need, but also for the confidence and courage he would have to muster as he focused his attention on the task before him.

The same is true in our lives too. Our experiences give us a reference point from which we can learn and grow. They may feel to us like yokes we can’t escape from, dragging us down with regret and guilt. But they are really opportunities for growth. As with Joshua, they are an invaluable resource from which to draw confidence and courage for the task ahead.

Uncommon Key > Don’t dwell on the past, but don’t be afraid to examine it either. Looking back is often the best way to shine a light on the path ahead.