Toward understanding
Forgive me for going back over some old ground here…but events and that heavenly Voice demand I do.
A few days ago, I posted an entry here that was intended to be an objective comparison of the various gospel music message boards I belong to. In terms of execution, I think I did just that. But some did not.
Now, there was a time when I would have simply shrugged off such criticism as sour grapes, or just petty hypersensitivity. And in the objective world of reality, it may be indeed that. But unfortunately for me, the world doesn’t always respond to my beck and call…and when you write about real people and real things they do, it is unreasonable for me to expect that they will receive my comments exactly the way I mean them. I understand this very well from my own life experience.
And now, since I no longer live merely for myself, I must consider how the One Who rules my life looks at these kinds of things. And one of the first questions is, do I need to say things that may potentially hurt people, or do I better serve the One I yearn to serve with all my heart by just keeping certain things to myself?
The answer is obvious…I don’t need to say anything that doesn’t serve the interests of my Lord Jesus Christ directly. I can instead show the world that I am a Christian by my love, and practice what I preach, so to speak.
I say the above to say this…after prayer and discussion with those whose counsel I value most, I have determined that some of the phraseology I used in that particular blog entry hurt some people…some real people, not some screen names on a message board. I never meant to do that, and it’s easy to forget that when you’re alone at home, trying to type a good turn of phrase to drive home a point. But now I see that I may have been a little careless in my choices of words, and in so doing, hurt some people that I value a great deal.
And to those people(and to God), I say here, in front of the whole world…I am sorry. Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt any of you.
When I was invited to post an item like that, I should have known what might happen if I wasn’t careful. But, obviously, I wasn’t careful enough. And I regret my carelessness…because, yes, I hate to be wrong.
But I don’t have any trouble admitting I’m wrong…when it’s apparent I am. And I was in this instance.
I know there will be some who say, “Well, John, this is all very well and good after the fact…when the damage has been done, and you were caught red-handed.” I understand that sentiment completely, and I can’t blame anyone if they may feel that way.
But I say, my sincerity was not questioned for a moment when I made my original post. Right away, my motives were questioned, my character assailed, and all kinds of hurtful things were thrown right back at me. If I was being so mean then, why is it hard to believe that I’m being sincere and repentant now?
And the obvious answer is, it’s not. I hope and pray you all will trust me on this. That decision is up to all of you, of course, but the fact that I am willing to return to the “scene of the crime” to ‘fess up, as it were, and ask forgiveness in front of all cyberspace ought to mean something. I hope it does.
I ask now that we all move on from this relative “blip” on the vast radar screen of the universe, and go on doing the very best we can during our time on earth. I am confident that those to whom I am addressing these comments are indeed intent on doing just that.
Sorry for interrupting your fun down here. Hereafter, I assure you that I will strive to be a “kinder, gentler” blogger…I can’t promise I will always succeed, but I do assure you that I will try.
Posted on Aug 27, 2006 - 09:09 PM | [0]
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