I’ve done things in my past that I’m not particularly proud of. I’ve been involved with people and situations that only served me in one way or another. I’m sure you’ve done things in the past that you regret or wish you could take back. I’ve always been somewhat ashamed of my past. Wanting to just get rid of it and forget it, but somehow it just keeps coming back. Thought a lot about that today and needed to get my mind off things. So I decided to do the dishes. Who knew, that the simple task of washing dishes could be so enlighteneing.
I filled the sink with water and soap, yes I do dishes by hand. LOL. I washed our glasses and cups first and then began washing the plates and bowls. I used a frying pan this morning and it had a lot of sticky grease and food residue. Grabbed the pan and put some water in it and then place it on the stove to boil. The boiling process releases most of the stuck food and grease. While it was boiling I finished up the rest of the dishes except for a plastic spatula.
Once the remaining dishes were done, I grabbed the frying pan and placed it in the sink allowing to cool slightly before scrubbing it. Because it is supposedly a non-stick pan, I used the edge of the plastic spatula to help release some of the more stuck on residue. I found myself scrubbing and rinsing only to find there was more there. Several times of scrubbing and rinsing, I soon realized that some of that residue was now a part of the pan. Years of cooking and washing had developed several stains in that pan.
It was at the moment of rinsing the pan one last time that I realized that pan is a lot like us. Over the years it had accumulated residual food particles and stains, blemishing the pan. Like that pan, we too have years if not decades of past experiences and hurts that have stained our self image. Regardless of how often we try to get rid of the past, it is always there…..a part of us. Question is what do we do? I could simply throw out that frying pan and get a new one. In all honesty though, I like that pan. It’s comfortable and it’s easy to work with.
Much like that pan, we could want to just start our life anew. However, because of our past experiences, our past hurts, our past shortcomings…we each have a unique perspective on life and living that can help others. We’ve been through stuff that some people are just starting to go through. We have a unique gift of being able to literally walk in a person’s shoes who are traveling down a path we’ve already crossed.
As an example, someone who has never had a drink in thier life is not able to connect with someone who is struggling with alcoholism. Only a person who has been down that road, gone through the process and pain, can relate to the person just beginning their recovery. They can speak directly to what a person is currently going through because they have gone through it.
Don’t ever be ashamed of your past. You are able to help others in ways nobody else can. Our past is a part of who we are today. While it is natural to think of our past as a burden, in reality our past can be the saving grace another person needs.
