Never too cold to plow

3 times in 3 days the Lord drew my attention to Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." First, in a sermon given by Vic King at church on Saturday night. Second, in the same sermon at church on Sunday morning. Finally in Bible reading designated in my thru the Bible a year deal for Monday morning. Each time I read it I had very different reactions to it. I continue to be amazed at God's GIGANTIC-NESS! He can use one verse to speak 3 different things to me in 3 days and offer how many other applications/inspirations from that same verse to billions of other Jesus Followers all over the planet!!!
Here's what Luke 9:62 had me chewing on:
1. When Vic referred to this verse he said something like - if we're trying to keep one hand on the plow and always looking back we will miss our purpose in the NOW. We'll feel like we're sitting on the fence - half in and half out of where life is taking us NOW.
2. The second time I heard the same sermon Vic said basically the same things but the Lord prompted my heart to thinks about some very specific circumstances in my past that I have found it hard to let go of over the years. He gave me a picture of how I sabotage my own steps today by holding onto grudges or disappointments from my past.
3. I read this verse in my own quiet time on Monday morning - kind of amazing but NOT coincidental! The Lord knew I needed to see it again. That day I visited my mom who - whether it's been officially diagnosed or not - has days that look a lot like those of a stroke patient. After a couple of good visits with her that gave me hope for her improvement Monday's visit was a bit of a shocker to me. She was very lethargic and confused - the way she had been weeks ago when things were at their worst. Our brief moments of conversation were made up of her saying things that made no sense and my trying to "play along". I left her that day with an achy heart and a lot of tears as I made the 2 hour drive home. Memories of good times with mom and with my family back home kept running through my head and even though they were sweet memories they fed the tears, the ache in my heart and the lump in my throat. While I don't believe Jesus is saying - don't celebrate the sweet memories of your childhood, the message of Luke 9:62 kept coming to mind. I think I was supposed to learn that even sweet memories, if they feed a heavy heart, may need to be tucked away for a time so that I can keep my hand on the plow and keep moving forward in whatever life I'm supposed live TODAY!
It's a fine line for me - one that I'm not very good at walking. The line between remembering the good things; kissing good-bye to the junk and not letting Satan wreak havoc with any of it!
Jesus, Help!