Repentance is the doorway to the spiritual life, the only way to begin. It is also the path itself, the only way to continue. Anything else is foolishness and self-delusion. Only repentance is both brute-honest enough, and joyous enough, to bring us all the way home.~ Frederica Mathewes-Green ~
from her essay, "Both Door and Path"
Just the word, no doubt, riles the imaginations in some people. Repentence, however, is more than "mea culpa" and flagellation.
It requires "brute-honest" self-awareness so that we can see when we miss the mark and when we are on the path. It is about staying current. It requires staying present in now. It takes a willingness to self-correct and make amends when necessary.
The path to "joyous" living.
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2 comments:
Yea, the word feels negative, but the concept is anything but!
One of the things I love about repentance is how it releases us to open to redemption. Lord knows, we all need redemption at some time or other. Least, I do, being a bit of a loud-mouth.
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