Do You Know The Way To San Jose?

It was a pop-hit several years ago and the lead line was followed by, "I've been away so long, so long." Memory oft times plays mean tricks on us as the things that were once so familiar have changed seats with reality. Old friends that we used to romp and play with, recently encountered, have exchanged vibrant vitality for a cane and a truck-load of wrinkles. But in my minds eye, tall trees await our conquoring ascent and the wind whistles past our speeding bikes! Yes, memory can play mean tricks.
But memory is not to be abandoned for 'reality'. Scripture often urges us to 'remember'.  We are to 'remember: 'our Creator in the days of our youth' (Ecc. 12:1); 'Lot's wife' (Luke 17:32); 'the five loaves and two fishes' [God's provision]
(Matt. 16:9); 'the words of the Lord Jesus' (Acts 20:31). Hidden here are both warnings and encouragement.
Some waste their time remembering past injustices while others stew over paths not taken or ill-advised decisions. Families are dis-jointed over innocent remarks taken out of context, breeding years of remorseful distance.
Others, however, invest their lives by planting random, unplanned acts of love as they journey and now waving fields of fragrant b.looms adorn the pages of memory.
Life is a one way trip and we cannot return to our yesterdays so as to undo those
unpleasant events, words or choices. But we can receive God's forgiveness which assures us "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." And, sometimes in His gracious ability, He allows what we call a 'cow pie' of a mistake to fall on a latent flower and He turns it into a thing of fragrant beauty!
Are your trying to get back to your 'San Jose'? Allow the Savior to throw a blanket of His forgiveness over past mistakes, blotched relationships, spoiled decisions, and take up a new life with the prospect of daily grace for living and afterwards eternity with Him.
Bog me if this helps.
More later.