One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.
history repeats itself
rich history
learn from history
history will show . . .
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Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. ~George Santayana
Possibly one of the best-known quotes about learning from what has gone before, and I think it's because there is a lot of truth in it. We do need to learn from history. We can observe what went right and what went wrong in the past, and maybe avoid some pitfalls. We may be able to learn lessons from our mistakes and from the mistakes of others.
We learn from history that we learn nothing from history. ~George Bernard Shaw
Most people's historical perspective begins with the day of their birth. ~Rush Limbaugh
Oh, but "that was a long time ago and the world was different then" is often leveled at older folks as they draw contrasts between how things were done when they were younger, or at anyone looking towards an earlier time in history for lessons or wisdom. And yes, times do change and technology and attitudes change as well. But in general, human nature doesn't change all that much. Humans have always had a tendency to be short-sighted and selfish and to do what we want regardless of of consequences. In short, we are sinful.
Thankfully, God's character doesn't change with the times and tides. His goodness and mercy and holiness have been the same since the beginning of time. The principles of holy living that he's given us have remained the same as well, but we kind of don't like to hear that. Perhaps because we are unwilling to learn from human history that whenever we rebel against God's laws things turn out badly.
This is spelled out clearly throughout the story of the Bible and we can see it down through the ages. Humans fail and rebel and try to solve our issues apart from God's plan, and whenever we do, we damage our relationships, our society, and the world we live in. But because God is eternally merciful, whenever we repent and turn to him and honor him he hears and forgives and restores us.
No matter how dark your personal history, God loves you. No matter how broken and ugly human history is, littered with the violence and evil of our cultures and nations, God wants us to turn to him and to restore us to his kingdom.
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
~II Chronicles 7:14~
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
~Hebrews 13:8~
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Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat the eleventh grade. ~James W. Loewen
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I remember some bad days in 2009 when hours were cut and we had a hard time making the bills. I wished at that time I could have talked to my grandmother and asked how she made it through the depression in the 30s. They knew how to make do! Blessings! FMF#7
ReplyDeleteI've wished something similar - I don't know how to make stuff "from scratch" the way my Grandma did. Making things last is a good lesson we could learn from history. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Deletenever too broken indeed. FMF1`1
ReplyDeletewhat a comfort! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI have often thought how I wish I had asked my grandparents more questions about their own life - their struggles, how they made it through hard times, and their experiences with God. I am so very grateful that while times have changed, our God remains the same.
ReplyDelete