The Shadows of Our Past: Reclaiming and Reflecting on Our History (05/31/'24) -Passage

The Shadows of Our Past: Reclaiming and Reflecting on Our History The sentence "Shadows always come from the past. If you know about Vision, I think it does not come from the future, but is a new reflection due to the shadow of the past" suggests that our present and future perceptions are heavily influenced by our past experiences. Shadows, symbolizing past events, cast their influence on our current reality and shape our vision of what is to come. In reality, this means that who we are now is a product of our past. Our decisions, actions, and even our aspirations are reflections or reactions to our previous experiences. This idea ties into the quote from Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby": “Can’t repeat the past?” he cried incredibly. “Why of course you can!” He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand.” Gatsby's quote expresses his belief that the past can be recreated or relived. He thinks that by sheer will and effort, one can return to a former state of being or recover lost time. Gatsby sees the past as something that can be grasped and reshaped, much like a shadow that lingers around his house. In both cases, the past is seen as a powerful force that shapes the present and influences our vision for the future. Gatsby's wild attempt to reclaim the past shows his refusal to accept its intangibility, while the initial sentence reflects the idea that our vision is always a new reflection created by the shadows of our past. Together, they illustrate how our identities and aspirations are continuously molded by where we've been and what we've experienced. Pastor Steven G. Lee (May 31, 2024)