Have you ever left your gas cap at a gas station after filling up? Or what about leaving your bank card at ATM machine after making a withdrawal? I know. Most cars come equipped with an attached gas cap so you can't forget. And most ATM machines beep when the card is ejected. But that phenomenon of forgetting is something psychologists call a postcompletion error. It is the tendency, after completing a task, to forget the steps that got you there.
I think the postcompletion error is one of the dangers we face going into a new year. Let me put it this way. I know lots of people who have been Christians for twenty-five years. But they don't have twenty-five years of experience. They have one year of experience repeated twenty-five times. Why? Because God has to re-teach them the same lessons over and over and over again.
What lessons has God taught you this past year? Let's not forget the old lessons so God can teach us new lessons next year.
I think a huge part of discipleship is overcoming this postcompletion error. If you've overcome an addiction, don't forget the steps you took. If your marriage has been reconciled, don't forget the steps. If you've experienced success in business, don't forget the steps. Share the steps with others. That's called discipleship.
One of my New Year traditions is preaching a message called Live and Learn. It's my way of capturing the lessons God has taught me over the past year. I need to double-back. Why? Because I don't want to forget how I got here!
I think the postcompletion error is one of the dangers we face going into a new year. Let me put it this way. I know lots of people who have been Christians for twenty-five years. But they don't have twenty-five years of experience. They have one year of experience repeated twenty-five times. Why? Because God has to re-teach them the same lessons over and over and over again.
What lessons has God taught you this past year? Let's not forget the old lessons so God can teach us new lessons next year.
I think a huge part of discipleship is overcoming this postcompletion error. If you've overcome an addiction, don't forget the steps you took. If your marriage has been reconciled, don't forget the steps. If you've experienced success in business, don't forget the steps. Share the steps with others. That's called discipleship.
One of my New Year traditions is preaching a message called Live and Learn. It's my way of capturing the lessons God has taught me over the past year. I need to double-back. Why? Because I don't want to forget how I got here!
6 Comments:
This has nothing to do with your blog entry...just wanted to let you know I am enjoying "Wild Goose Chase." Great book, great read, great insights...thanks.
Love it...I'm preaching on this very thing as we look back at the significant truths our church has learned together in the past year...you just gave me a sweet introduction!
Merry Christmas!
I looked up from my notebook to see that I had a new feed to read. After reading it, I realized I am writing the same stuff. But I am with Dale.od..you have given me some great intro material!
Thanks Mark...Merry Christmas...
So well said! Thanks! I hope to kick off the new year with this in mind.
Here's another good reason to look back... Psychologists have found that those who look backward before moving forward tend to plan much farther into the future AND they are much more successful in reaching their future goals. Look back and then move forward -- good advice!
great insights, has really given me something to look on while I am gettting geared to face 2009. Thanks for your servicec
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