... would you?
Would you do or say anything differently?
If you could stop yourself from saying that; if you could prevent yourself from behaving in that way would you if you could?
I like to think that I am living my life without regret. But it is always lurking.
I am promised by Jesus that the implications of my actions and words have lost their spiritual power over me if I turn my life around and follow where he leads.
And yet today I feel regret. I feel remorse for things that I have done/said or not done/said...
There are a few past occasions that still fill me with regret:
1. A meeting recently when I should have called debate to a halt but didn't and that has had a costly affect on someone else.
2. Many times when I would have been far better in holding my tongue or thinking and not speaking some things and hurting those dear to me.
On occasions such as these the words of the prayer of confession from the Book of Common Prayer spring to my mind:
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires
of our own hearts.
We have offended against thy holy laws.
We have left undone those things
which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things
which we ought not to have done;
and there is no health in us.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
Restore thou them that are penitent;
according to thy promises declared unto mankind
in Christ Jesu our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of thy holy name. Amen.
I confess my faults. I am penitent again and again and again. I am restored today and long to be restored again tomorrow and the day after and the day after...
Kyrie Eleison.
There is loads more I could say... Now it's your turn...
