After graduating high school in 1978, I lived on campus of Cincinnati Bible College (now known as Cincinnati Christian University) for three years. I attended one more year at Cincinnati Bible College while living off campus and yet another year at a small Bible college near Buffalo, New York (New York Christian Institute).

from CCU Student-Union

During my three years living on campus in Cincinnati, I lived in Alumni Hall for two years and Rine Hall for one. The lower floor of Rine Hall housed the cafeteria when I attended college and for many, this beloved dormitory holds some pretty awesome memories.

I typically woke up at 4 am each morning to do school work and when 6 am rolled around, I would move my studying to the cafeteria. Coffee and coffee cake (the best in all the land) awaited me at that early hour. I was blessed to enjoy this luxury day after day, week after week, for three years!

from CCU Student-Union

Rine Hall also housed one of my good friends and together we watched Laura Ingalls fall in love with Almonzo Wilder in the lounge of Rine Hall. Rine Hall was a gathering place for laughter and serious discussions. And during my third year at CBC, I lived in Rine Hall.

You’re probably wondering why I’m so obsessed with Rine Hall today. Well, yesterday, they tore this residence hall down. Today, it no longer exists. It’s gone. The demolition crew began yesterday morning and now, nothing remains of this beloved building.

Oh, there are new, bigger and better buildings to replace Rine Hall on the campus of CBC and new memories are being made each day within the walls of those buildings, but it still makes me a little sad to know that part of my past is gone.

from CCU Student-Union

Sometimes we dwell too much upon our past. The regrets. The disappointments. The disillusions. The missed opportunities. But Paul urges us to forget the things that we’ve done wrong or missed and to look forward to what will be. You see, our past holds nothing for us. But in our future, we have hope. We have opportunity. We have promises. So why on earth would we continue to dwell on the past?

Well, I believe the answer is because we just do. Sometimes we can’t help it. We wonder, “What if?” Or “I should have…” Or “What was I thinking?”

My encouragement to you today would be to forget the past and all that accompanies it (sin and its ugliness) and look to the future (redemption and its beauty). Recall Paul’s words with me. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14 – NIV)

I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me. Can you?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna