ONE of the central acts in Christian worship is repentance. Repentance does not mean being heart-broken over my failures, though it can include that.

Neither is it about punishing myself for the harm I’ve done or the hurt I’ve caused.

Repentance simply means a change of heart or mind which leads me to act or think differently.

I repent when I get a new perspective on something and realise that the view I had was mistaken and needs to change, or when I defend my actions but later realise that my motives were selfish or driven by fear.

I need courage to admit that I was wrong, although sometimes that courage seems in short supply!

In public life we see little repentance.

Instead, we see the “U-turn”, when someone takes a new course whilst refusing to own up to their previous mistake.

Politicians are reviled for “U-turns”, and it troubles me that the political world is so cut-throat that our politicians can’t admit that they were wrong.

We can help others see their mistaken views and actions when we assure them that admitting they were wrong and taking a new course is a laudable and courageous thing to do; a sign of maturity, not weakness.

So I wonder: What could I do this week to help me become more aware of my mistaken views and actions, and more willing to own up to them and change?

James Gregory

Crediton Congregational Church