Psalm 37
Habakkuk 3:1-10(11-15)16-18
Phil. 3:12-21
John 17:1-8
“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14
As a man who discovered Christ later in life, I am drawn to the story of Paul and his redemption on the road to Damascus. Like Saul, I became a new man when I joined the Church. Like Paul, I know that my spiritual journey is nowhere near complete. In today’s reading, Paul teaches us to forget what is behind us and strive toward what is ahead. This is often one of the most difficult things we can do. Lent is a good time of year to try.
In every person’s past there are things said or left undone that prevent us from fully experiencing Christ’s love in the present. Paul knew this perhaps better than anyone, and Paul reminds us that we must strive toward what is ahead. Learning to accept—and forget when necessary—the past allows us to move closer to the person that Christ wants us to be. We need to be as willing to accept forgiveness for our own past as we are willing to forgive the pasts of others.
As we travel through our chosen Lenten disciplines this year, let’s take a moment to allow ourselves the Grace to forget what is done and make room for what is to be.

– Collin Klamper