Residue

The past reverberates in the future. A chain of good decisions--of investments in hard work, savings, friendship, kindness, goodwill--conveys benefits now. A man reaps what he sows, after all. The past is never merely a record of what once was; it lives on through its residue that defines today's givens. We build from there. How fortunate we are when the residue is good--when the track of investment over time has been bold, prudent, and generous. Bad residue, though, is common enough, in which case people must build off a string of bad contexts, events, or relationships. If the past leaves a residue on the present, then today's decisions will cling to, and partly define, tomorrow's reality. Our history follows us like bride's train. Bridal trains can be very beautiful, but they must be handled with care.