Washed Clean: Finding Freedom Beyond the Past
By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
There’s a profound liberation in releasing the chains of our past, a freedom that comes when we no longer allow ourselves—or others—to keep us captive to what once was. Yes, we’ve made mistakes, stumbled down roads of poor judgment, missed what we thought were golden opportunities, and made decisions that haunt us in the quiet hours of the night. But did we truly miss out, or were those moments simply part of a greater, unseen plan designed to guide us to where we are meant to be?
Today, we stand at a threshold, faced with a choice: to dwell in the shadows of what has been or to step boldly into the light of what is. It’s easy to get trapped in the what-ifs, the could-have-beens, and the endless replay of decisions made long ago. But this is no way to live. The past is a heavy burden to carry, and it serves no purpose other than to weigh us down, to keep us from reaching the heights we’re capable of.
We often forget that the Creator’s plan is far more intricate than we can comprehend. What we see as missed opportunities or failures may have been divine redirections, guiding us away from what wasn’t meant for us and towards something far more fitting. We are too hard on ourselves, especially when we don’t meet the expectations we’ve set, or when our lives don’t look like we imagined they would. We get caught up in the relentless rat race, trying to keep up with a society that measures worth by material success and status. But there is so much more to life than this empty chase.
In our pursuit of these illusions, we wear ourselves out—mentally, physically, and spiritually—trying to grasp dreams that are as elusive as smoke. When we fail to catch them, we sink into despair, feeling like we’ve failed. But this has to stop. There is a deeper, more fulfilling way to live, one that isn’t dictated by the world’s standards but by the true desires of our souls. When we shift our focus away from what we lack and begin to appreciate the journey we’re on, we start to see the beauty that lies in the very act of striving, in the growth that comes from struggle.
As we work to grow, to learn, and to refine who we are, there will always be those who try to hold us back, to keep us tied to who we used to be. Perhaps it makes them feel better about their own lives, or maybe they simply don’t know how to relate to the person we’ve become. By holding us in their minds as the person we once were, they cling to what they knew, what was comfortable for them. Their reluctance to accept our growth may stem from their own fears, their own refusal to face the changes they need to make in their own lives.
But it’s not our job to make them comfortable with who we are today. Our journey is our own, and we have every right to live it according to what we know is best for us. The tug-of-war between the past and the present can be exhausting, draining us of the energy we need to move forward. But we have the power to release that rope, to stop engaging in a struggle that isn’t ours to begin with. We don’t owe anyone an explanation or an apology for who we are becoming.
It’s time to forgive ourselves for the missteps we’ve taken, for the roads not traveled, and for the dreams that didn’t come to pass. The Creator, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, sees us not as the sum of our mistakes but as beings in a constant state of becoming. He has placed us exactly where we need to be, surrounded by the people and experiences that will help us grow into who we are meant to be. If we wipe the tears from our eyes, we will see the beauty that has been there all along—both within us and around us.
Atonement is like the moment when a storm passes and the sky begins to clear, revealing the first light of dawn. The clouds of guilt and regret start to part, and we see the world with fresh eyes. The weight of what we've carried, the heaviness of past wrongs, begins to lift. It's not that the storm never happened—it shaped the landscape—but the new day offers a chance to start again, to breathe deeply in the crisp, clean air of forgiveness. This process isn’t about erasing the past but about transforming it, allowing the rain of atonement to wash away the grime and leave behind the essence of who we truly are.
Just as the earth soaks up the rain, we too must absorb the lessons that come with our mistakes, letting them nourish our growth. This is the beauty of atonement—it brings us back to ourselves, cleansed and renewed, ready to step forward unburdened by the weight of what once was.
The past may have shaped us, but it does not define us. Each day, we are given the opportunity to wash ourselves in the waters of forgiveness, reconciliation, and atonement, to let go of the weight that has held us down for so long. We are continually being renewed, and that is a beautiful, hopeful thing.
So let go of yesterday’s burdens. Step into the lightness of today. You are not who you were, and that is something to celebrate. Do not be hard on yourself for the mistakes you’ve made or the opportunities you think you’ve missed. The Creator is forgiving and merciful, and He has placed beautiful people and experiences in your life. If you just wipe the tears from your eyes, you will see the beauty that has always been there, waiting for you to notice it.
The rain has fallen,
Washing away yesterday,
Sunrise on new paths.
Comments