We as people of faith need to apologize more.

We as people of faith need to get better at apologizing. We do more harm than we realize; often by following our convictions. And we need to be more willing to seek forgiveness for it.

That’s going to require a lot of humility, some genuine connection, and a dash of spiritual envy. But I think we can do it. And we need to do it. If we’re sincere in our faith then there’s a demand for it.

I'm realizing how high and mighty I used to be. How okay I was with letting my surety trump my empathy. It's been a hard pill to swallow. As we look at our actions we need to realize we aren’t always correct. We don’t have all the answers. We have faith because we don’t. And we need to embrace that. We need that humility. We need that recognition. We don't know everything. We can't know everything. And that means we won't always get it right. 

Too often we find our selves calling people to repentance without knowing there hearts are. Without knowing what they are going through. Often we have no reference. I was a lot more judgmental about addiction and mental health challenges before I experienced my own. I didn't understand chronic illness until my own, even though I'd watched people close to me struggle. And how I applied the standards I had for myself, was wrong. I put them on others and I missed who they were and what they were often going through. I wasn't always careful with my words (and my actions) and I know I hurt people. The more I took time to understand people, get to know them. The less harm I've done. But it requires genuine charity, care, and kindness. It requires a listening ear while leaning back on the humility I'm struggling to gain. It isn't easy. But I feel that It's worth it.

I've come to realize that our faith is built on scriptures and practices from specific places in time. And following the trends, we can see how other systems of faith are intertwined into cultures and communities. Where we are, how we were raised, and the values that matter to us will impact so much of our faith. That changes what we do well and what we need to work on. Any of us are not immune to that. And we often won't be able to see the blind-spots. 

Often we go through life thinking we're doing good. But are we offering true support and kindness? Are we meeting people's actual needs? Are we doing what we can to learn and grow? Are we recognizing the goodness in the people around us?

For so much of my life I wasn't. I thought my faith was superior to others. I thought people with differing challenges were weak. I thought those who thought differently than me were misguided. But I've often been so wrong. 

I've hurt people in my earnestness. My practice of faith has and can hurt others. And that's been a tough pill to swallow. But I'm hoping that my desire to be a little more like Jesus allows me to be more caring to my fellow man. Cause I'm wondering how well I've always been. 

I need to do better. And honestly saying sorry. Admitting wrong is a huge place for me to start. But that's it. A start. 

So a final thing to think about. Apologizing will not automatically grant forgiveness. It will not immediately provide restitution. There will still be work to do. An apology without the care and kindness that comes with getting to know someone will fall flat. Brushing aside when someone explains how you harmed them will make things worse. We need to listen and care. And if we do. That's how we heal so much. 

So we just need to say, "I'm sorry" and mean it. The tricky part is meaning it.