I have been thinking of St. Junipero Serra’s motto, “Always Forward, Never Back.” The man never gave up. Even though every step he took caused him pain, the pain of an unhealed and persistent injury to one of his legs, he walked confidently forward. His outlook was always positive. He was going to get there, wherever the Lord was calling him. This founder of the Franciscan missions of San Juan Capistrano, San Diego, San Francisco and all the rest always found the strength to go on. He had found the pearl of great price, the gold piece and he was going to do everything he could to pass on this Good News to those he was sent to evangelize.
Satchel Paige, the baseball legend from the old negro leagues, was getting at the same principle when he gave this piece of advice: “Don’t look back! Somethin’ may be gainin’ on ya.”
We Christians know that our secret virtue is hope. I say secret because it’s only revealed to those who learn how to pray. That said, it just makes common sense not to be stuck in the depressive, dark clouds of the past. That kind of thinking lacks the virtue of hope.