thoughts on the news of the day: apologies

hmmm…..

            Alabama Govenor Robert Bentley proclaimed to the audience at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church that only Christians were his brothers and sisters.  But yesterday he apologized for saying that and vowed to work for people of all faiths and colors.

            It’s hard to say, “I am sorry, I made a mistake.”  But in order to change and to grow, we must occasionally apologize for errors we have made.  When we are in authority, it is an even much more difficult task to ask for forgiveness for our blunders.  Parents occasionally goof up and have to say they are sorry to their children.  Teachers slip up with students.  Political officials sometimes report inaccurate facts or make decisions that do more harm than good.

            But the measure of a person is their ability to face mistakes and offer atonement for sins committed.  The first step in the process is to become aware of the error.  That is sometimes problematic.  How do we know we were in the wrong when we thought we were so right?  How can we change if we aren’t even aware?  How do we admit to mistakes that we don’t even know we made?  To Governor Bentley’s credit, he listened to what his advisors, the media and his constituency were saying about his blunder and he made a change. 

            We all make mistakes; we all need loving friends to point out those mistakes to us.  Who in your life will always tell you the truth no matter how bad it hurts?  Cultivate that relationship, it will help you grow.

            hmmm…..