You ever look back on old pictures of yourself and just have to smile and shake your head? "How could I have ever thought baggy shorts were an appropriate complement to these spindly legs?" "Am I glad I learned that lime green shouldn't ordinarily be a style preference." "Look at that hair!"
Growth and maturity are beautiful things, and I'm so thankful our Father is committed to seeing that they happen in our lives. Often those of us doing the growing tap our foot impatiently, wishing we could just get to the final product. The growing process is blessedly awkward and looking back on where we've come from elicits blushes of various shades. But I don't think we need to throw dust-sheets over our old selves, as though no one can read the "Work in Progress" sign the Father hangs in front of every one of His children.
Looking back on this blog, I feel the temptation to grab those dust sheets. "Ugh. That doesn't really represent my views anymore." "Yeah, that boy needed some seminary training." "Good night. Wasn't I angsty in college!"
You know what's funny? In five more years, I'll be looking back on today and feel the threatening red of embarrassment laying siege to my ears. I'm forever amazed by how lovingly patient the Lord is with me, particularly when I look at old representations of me. But then "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). God is ever in the renovating process. He loved the old Kent with the baggy shorts and angsty soul, so much in fact He hasn't given up on shaping him into the image of His beloved Son. That should give us confidence to look back on His work in our lives with humble and even humor-filled thankfulness.
We can praise God for His work in our lives both currently and in those days that have no remaining record because we destroyed all the evidence tracing us to the color lime green!
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