One year ago we were basking in the tulip festival of the Netherlands. I would not have imagined then that an invisible virus would change the world so dramatically. I understand that massive amounts destined for export are not going to waste.

Reviewing the rear is fun, but we cannot continually live looking in the rear view mirror. That would be a backward life. We must keep our eye on the road. However, an occasional glance is essential. Knowing what’s behind us can help us move safely forward.

It’s good to remember the good.

Here are a couple of quotes I find meaningful about looking back:

”We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.“ - EGW

“Hang in memory’s hall the precious words of Christ. They are to be valued far above silver or gold.“ - EGW

Tulips are varied and beautiful, but lack aroma. Wouldn’t it be nice if they had an aroma as well? Paul encourages us to be a sweet perfume to those around us. I see the members of our church resembling a bouquet of flowers . . . a variety pack of varied beauty and aromas.

Here’s a current project. Could we be the human bouquet in SLO that beautifies the soulful landscape of our neighborhood? Could we be creative in zooming out the gloom, saving faces FaceTiming, or maybe simply praying for complex issues? I encourage each of us to think about the flower we have been gifted from God. We need tiger lilies, fox gloves, birds of paradise, statice, gladioluses, roses and even pansies. Let’s support and complement each other as we become that bouquet. That would be something we could file in our memory bank.

—Larry Smith