Have you ever been transported back in time by a certain taste, touch, sound, sight or smell? I have heard that smell is the strongest sense to trigger a memory. Not for me. My most powerful trigger is music.

Recently, while listening to the radio on a weekend get-a-way, I found myself instantly transported back to the 70's, to a time I call my in between years. These were the years after I was introduced to Jesus as my Savior but before I surrendered my life to Him, asking Him to be my Lord. During those years, I was not living out my new found Christian faith, in fact I was running hard and fast away from God.

As the song continued, I considered changing the radio station. The lyrics were awful and the memories it stirred up were not edifying. But I liked the beat and to be honest, for a little while, I liked the memories. As the song ended, I no longer felt good but pained by the memories it produced.

As a new song started, I quietly asked the Lord's forgiveness for listening to the old song and for lingering on my past. I turned my thoughts back to the present and praised God for how far He brought me and all the blessings He has given me along the way. Gratitude filled my heart for God's redemption from those empty, wasted in between years long ago.

How about you? Do you ever find yourself transported to the past by a song, an aroma, a color, a texture or perhaps a certain food? Some of the memories they trigger are wonderful and will always be treasured. However, other memories are better left behind.

I hope the next time my senses transport me to the past, I will be careful and quick not to linger on the memories that need to be left there. As Philippians 3:13 says, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."

I hope the next time my senses transport me to the past, I will be careful and quick not to linger on the memories that need to be left there. As Philippians 3:13 says, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."