Looking Back at What You've Left Behind

Xuefeng

In addition to the main building, the Lifechanyuan International Family Resort has seven wooden guesthouses. This morning, I went to clean and tidy up Guesthouse No. 1 by the lake. The first thing that caught my eye was a pile of unburnt firewood next to the stove, with wood chips scattered everywhere. Then, I saw a stack of dirty pots and pans near the sink. The two bedrooms were a complete mess, and one of the pillows had a filthy stain. When I removed the pillowcase, the pillow itself was just as badly stained. The once-white round tablecloth was missing, only to be found later stuffed in a cot behind the door, filthy beyond recognition.

This is the most memorable experience I've had in my seven years of managing guesthouses. I can only imagine the level of civilization and LIFE quality of these guests.

In Sherlock Holmes' investigations, he deduced the scene of the crime and the characteristics of the criminal solely from the clues left behind. Similarly, if we carefully examine the traces left behind by anyone along their path, we can deduce their character, especially their manners, cultivation, and inner quality.

With this in mind, each of us should look back at what we have left behind on our journey.

Have we left behind flowers, or thorns?

Have we left behind praise, or curses?

Have we left behind longing, or rejection?

Have we left behind cherished memories, or disdain?

Have we left behind light, or darkness?

Have we left behind hope, or despair?

Have we left behind beautiful memories, or nightmares?

Have we left behind heaven, or hell?

We must remain vigilant. If, along the way, we’ve left behind beauty, then we are on the path to heaven. But if we’ve left behind rejection, curses, and ugliness, then we are not far from hell.

Christianity speaks of a final judgment. How is this judgment carried out? What is it based on?

The judgment is based on the little things each person has left behind along their journey.

2024-10-03