As we celebrate another milestone in our nation’s history, it beckons us as a people to stop and ask the question: Is it time to move on or should we continue to dwell in the past? This is the fundamental question that needs to be answered if we are to move forward.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: Anguilla at forty-five, time to rejoice, rebuild and reconcile, but are we truly rejoicing as a people? Do we truly, as a people, wish to rebuild and reconcile? If we take time to reflect and reminisce on the past, we truly as a people have much to be thankful for that can cause us to rejoice and give God thanks. He has brought us a mighty long way over the many years, both individually and collectively, but do we take time out collectively as a people to come together to offer thanks to Him for His many blessings, or do we just take them for granted? How many of us come together as a people at the Ecumenical Service set aside for Anguilla Day to join forces in giving God thanks?
If we are truly honest, as a people, we can say we have failed in that regard. If we are truly honest, as a people, we can also say that there is much work to be done in regard to nation building and reconciliation among our people. If indeed we are to move on – if we are to experience change – we first need to admit our faults and admit where we are.
If Anguilla is to move forward, we must change course. We must rebuild and reconcile as a people. There is absolutely no doubt about that! We only have to take a look around us and see how far we have moved away from the values that once held us together. The walls of our nation have broken down and in dire need of repair. Our people are divided as we continue to be polarized. We are in a sad state of affairs and are in need of God’s help and direction.
There’s no specific formula for deciding when it’s time to move on in life since every country and situation is unique, but if we are to move on as a people, we must all be certain of what we want and how to achieve it. Moving on just to escape problems is definitely the wrong reason and will only lead to even greater problems in the future. So how do we tell whether it’s time to stay or move on?
It is time to move on: if we are in a bad or addictive relationship: if we are feeling never-ending frustration, anger, and/or fear; if we are feeling that our potential is always “just beyond reach”; if the relationship which we are in lacks what each of us needs; if we both have little in common and there is a big communication gap; if our self-esteem is progressively low which prevents further growth and healthy mobility; if we feel we are unable to be ourselves and therefore have to wear a mask to pretend that things are working; and if we truly realize that we no longer have a support system.
It is time to move on: if there is a presence of abuse in the relationship, if we find ourselves or seeing the other party acting out in negative ways for control, if we are always trying to please the other party in unreasonable ways for acceptance or peace; if we have to compromise our health and safety; if we constantly have to lie about things we are doing for fear of repercussions; if we have to rationalize reasons to stay that are not accurate, or enough to balance out the negative; if we know the relationship has long been over and take no real steps towards releasing it; and if we are living in an “auto-pilot” state and feeling a complete lack of control over our feelings and state of affairs.
It is time to move on: if we have become stuck in a difficult situation that is causing us to lose our joy for living. It is time to move on, if we are brooding over the past, resenting circumstances, and constantly blaming others rather than taking charge of our own affairs and destiny. It is definitely time to move on!
The Bible is not silent in this regard. Scripture also points out that there are times to stay and times to move on as well. However, it is for us as a people to find those reasons through prayer, study of God’s Word and guidance from godly counsellors. We should never be tempted to rush things. We must give ourselves time to think things through before we act and allow the Holy Spirit to make it clear whether it’s time for us to stay or move on.
That is exactly what Moses did when he spoke untoIsraelas outlined in Deuteronomy 1:6-8. “The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them”.
There was another time when God commanded the Israelites to move as well. God said unto Joshua, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel” (Joshua 1:2). You see, in order for them to get the blessings God had for them, they had to move on. The decision impacts all of them as a people. The decision not to go would have also affected them as a people as well. Therefore, if God tells you to go, He is counting on you to take the people with you as well.
There are several lessons we need to learn as a people from that Exodus story:
1) Camping out in our comfort zones can be detrimental. There is danger in becoming self-satisfied. Instead of advancing to new levels, we tend to become content with the status quo and staying within our comfort zone. We have nice cars, nice homes, nice jobs, nice clothes etc. so we ask ourselves: why change anything? That is trap number one. We succumb to the same complacent attitude but God never intended for us to stand still! Yes, we have seen some improvements but it is time to move on!
2) It’s a command to move on. Anything that remains stagnant carries a stench after a while. For example, stagnant water breeds mosquitoes, diseases and death after a while; an unmoved vehicle is destroyed by rust after a while and a person that has no work to do usually becomes lazy after a while. Scripture also points out that even after Israel entered the Promised Land and defeated 31 different kings, God reminded an aged Joshua (90 years old): There remaineth YET very much land to be possessed.
3) There is always a challenge to overcome obstacles. The story of Exodus highlighted this fact. Between where Israel was camped and the possessing of the Promised Land, there were several obstacles. They had enemies to confront. There were GIANTS in the land, they had battles to be fought, there were stumbling blocks of unbelief! There was leadership obstacles, and there were commitment obstacles.
You, see my friends, moving on is never easy but there is a cost to remaining where we are as well. We have a decision to make as a people: should we move on or should we remain? The choice is ours to make! Are we committed to do what is necessary to help us to move on?
This is about faith. Their blessing was on the other side of the Jordan. It was on the other side of their fear or complacency. We cannot get what God wants us to have until we get to the other side. This takes crazy faith. Will we step out in faith, trusting God to bless and meet our needs? What will our answer be?
When God tells you to go, just move! You might not have the money, and all the amenities, or anything else, but when you hear the word that tells you to go, you just go! Wherever your faith will stretch you, your feet will take you, and when your feet take you God will give them to you. It is time to stop looking back and press forward! Grieving the past is normal, but there comes a time to move on. It becomes a matter of choice, a matter of the mind directing the will to provide leadership to our emotions. When God speaks, we have to obey!
There is no need for us to allow a “root of bitterness” to spring up and “cause trouble” among us. There comes a time in life to commit difficult situations to the Lord and trust Him. His mercies and compassion are “new every morning”.
General Douglas MacArthur once said that “a man is old when he begins to look backwards more than he looks forward”. He also said, “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
As a people, we have a choice: We can move on and look forward and enjoy God’s blessings in the days ahead, or we can remain and live in the past and forfeit what God wants for us today. Which will it be? Only you can choose!!
