This seems to have been a long summer of very public apologies.It started in the business world.
- Toyota CEO Akia Toyoda famously cried on television, expressing remorse for the auto manufacture’s safety problems.
- British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward sauntered up the microphone to try and make amends for the Gulf Coast oil spill.
- The sports world was rocked when Tiger Woods morphed from superstar to a man of contrition, confessing his sins on television and pleading for forgiveness.
- In the entertainment world, we saw Jesse James say he’s sorry for cheating on wife Sandra Bullock.
The pundits have scrutinized, criticized and analyzed these apologies. Were they genuine? Were they complete?
Mike St. Pierre’s, over at Daily Saint, wrote “The Power of a Good Apology,” particularly struck me. He had this to say:
At some point, we will all need to apologize to coworkers, neighbors, friends and family. I have grievously harmed those closest to me and I need to go beyond words. My tendency is to admit my faults and move on …quickly. But forgiveness isn’t often easily given, and the path toward completion is often rocky, dusty and lonely.1.To apologize is to be human. No one is above or exempt from saying they’re sorry. 2.To go beyond it, own it. This involves deep introspection and you have to reach a point where you look in the mirror and admit that at least part of the problem is, well, you. Own it and move on. Accept full responsibility- it’s the only way.
3.Follow up with concrete actions. A personal note, flowers, gifts, and more are all good starts but it will take much more to amend a wrong committed against someone else.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed”
James 5:16
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