“By the rivers of Babylon — there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.” (v. 1)

Wherever you grew up—whenever you grew up—it’s likely that you look back with some fondness. “It was a simpler time! A safer time! And people went to church!” No matter when your “when” was, we think on it and say, “Remember when?!”

But now…

…we are strangers in a strange land.

It can be pretty tempting to retreat, to abandon this culture and its times, and live in the past. That’s the common ache of every cultural exile.

But is that our calling?

Psalm 137 reminds us of the reality of that feeling…while also pointing us toward our purpose. We ought not forget the good things of God—even past things—but we don’t have the privilege of running there to hide. In His timing, He will restore every exile to the forever home of worship, and it will be the perfect expression of all of those longings. Yet in these days, we live, and we worship even while we wait.

Look back with fondness, and look ahead with faith—but don’t let “Remember when” be your idol.

— Tyler