Making Progress

I remember reading somewhere in C.S. Lewis’ writings about one making progress in his or her life. It goes something like this. If you get off on the wrong road, no matter how far you go, that is not progress. To go back to where you took the incorrect turn and continue on, that’s progress. And, he adds, the man or woman who turns back soonest makes the speediest progress.

I have said to wayward souls in the past, “Begin again from where you’re at.” But I was mistaken; what I should have said is, “Start from where you got off.” The advice of the former only changes ones attitude, not their direction. They’re still on the wrong road. God’s way is to come back to Bethel and start over from there. Jacob found this to be true.

You can’t go on until you have first come back.