A columnist shares his personal experiences of being stuck in the past, present, and future, and how he learned to live in all three time periods simultaneously.

Getting Stuck in Time

The columnist recounts his childhood experience with an aunt and uncle who were John Birchers, fearing Communist takeover. He notes how this fear led to the formation of the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Hollywood Blacklist.

He also shares his experience teaching high school students who were stuck in the present, making decisions without considering the consequences. Additionally, he recounts his time in a religious cult, where he was focused on the future and let the cult leader make decisions for him.

Learning from Experience

The columnist explains how his experiences taught him the importance of living in all three time periods. He notes that being stuck in the past can lead to fear and mistrust, while being stuck in the present can lead to reckless decisions. He also learned that being focused solely on the future can prevent one from learning from history.

He credits his time at Pepperdine University and his travels overseas with broadening his perspective and understanding of the world. He also notes that scandals within the cult, including revelations of sexual abuse, further opened his eyes to the reality of the situation.

The columnist concludes that his experiences have taught him valuable lessons about the importance of living in all three time periods and learning from history.

Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.