Confession is the first step

A longtime ago I found myself in a predicament that warranted my dad telling me a story about Clark Gable and William Faulkner. Gable of course was the leading man of his day in Hollywood. Faulkner was the internationally acclaimed writer from Mississippi. It seems that the two men were at a dinner somewhere together when the host asked Faulkner something about one of his novels. Gable entered the conversation this way: "Oh, Mr. Faulkner, do you write?".

The table went silent as all were staring in hushed amazement. William Faulkner looked straight at Clark Gable and replied, "Yes, Mr. Gable...and what do you do?".

You can imagine the response.

Clark Gable was considered a great actor, but even people of great stature sometimes say things that offer offense. I don't know exactly what sort of inflection Faulkner used to reply to Gable's question. He might have been very cynical; or witty with a twinkle in his eye. I do feel sure that it brought the house down.

I can laugh at that situation only if I remember that in my years I have been in the position of both Gable and Faulkner. I have said and asked some really dumb things, only to be embarrassed. I have been in the position to either be cynical or witty as well. I suppose that the thing I have come to appreciate is that all people play those roles from time to time. Everyone will suffer from hoof-in-the-mouth disease; everyone will have an opportunity to embarrass another. How we handle those situations is often overlooked, but very important.

Mistakes are mistakes. From the time we are children we are told that mistakes can be forgiven by an apology. Some of the mistakes require more than an apology. Sometimes restoration is necessary as well as the apology. Mistakes happen and once the deed is done or said, it cannot be retracked. "My apology" is the first action on the way to repairing the road of relationship.

Friday is the Jewish New Year,Rosh Hashana. Eight days later is the Holy Day of Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement. Jews the world over will honor God on these holy days by fasting, praying and enjoying the relationships of their shul communities. On Rosh Hashana it is a tradition to eat apple dipped in honey, for a sweet new year. Most important of all, Jews will seek out forgiveness.

The chosen people seek out forgiveness from anyone they may have offended. The eight days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are the time for this soul searching. The reason is simple: to stand before God as unblemished as possible that thy name may be written in the Book of Life on Yom Kippur. It is holy work that is sometimes very difficult.

What happens if you approach someone and they refuse to hear you or accept your apology? What happens if someone you need to go see has died or moved away? I am told that the rabbis have activities that are prescribed for such situations. Then a well-meaning Jew can feel assurance of the glorious feeling of an open heart, having tried his or her best to make things right. Christians have the same admonition in the Scriptural words of Jesus.

We are to go beyond just being nice. We are to honor all of God's people. When we do wrong, we are to apologize and try to re-establish the right relationship. Jesus challenges us to reach beyond what just seems the right thing to do. Over and over in the Gospel accounts He tells people to do some strange things. Risk going naked that your brother or sister may have clothing (see the part about giving away cloaks as well as coats). Your neighbor is the very

person you have been taught all of your life to see as a bum (the Good Samaritan story). When you can trust and play like children you will be kingdom-close (Luke loves this one). Rather than talk bad or look with lust, cut those actions out of your life (sounds better than lose a hand or an eye).

Episcopalians know that when we come together to do worship we are forcing ourselves to say an apology to God. One youngster asked, "But what if I haven't done anything wrong?" Truth is we, as sinners, are always doing something that lacks in holy living and aiming at right relationship. Sometimes we don't even know we are acting in ways that thwart the Creator. This is the reason that we have corporate confession. It is for everyone; it is a part of our worship; and it is a time for the individual to search his or her heart, silently and in the quiet of a soul ask God to forgive.

"Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

"We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

"We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

"For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your name. Amen."

This beautiful moment is followed by the priest declaring that we believe God has forgiven us; and now calls us to live rightly and in accordance with God's teaching.

I offer this to the reading public. The Book of Common Prayer is not copyrighted so that anyone may use the words of this tradition.

Confession is for me a means of remaining humble and in right relationship with my God. It offers me the courage to be responsible in trying to make the mending of brokenness more affordable. Confession is the first step in admitting the mistake and beginning the apology.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
Buried in shallow Jackson grave	1
Reader responds to 'wet-dry' column	1
Area Obituaries	1
Lounge license denied in split vote	1