A Chance to "Do Over" and Not "Dwell on It"
For the longest time, I couldn't see the point in confession. Before I truly believed that I am beloved by God, saying the confession during the church service either seemed hypocritical (did I mean the words I mouthed?) or induced fresh waves of guilt and shame despite the absolution given by the priest. Confession said on Sundays when I was a teen. Perhaps it just takes me a bit longer, but last year as I put together a Rule of Life (part of becoming an associate of the Order of the Holy Cross), I was again confronted with this prevailing belief that confession was some antiquated words that held no real meaning now. I consulted Mary, a friend of mine, about this dilemma. It seems that, generally speaking, Episcopalians didn't much care for confession -- baggage most like from being Protestant and separated from the Catholic church 500 some years ago. Mary shared with me a prayer that both thanked God for the day's blessings and asked me to recognize when I h...