Just a Few Long-Lost Words
By PJ Balzer
Social media has the potential to be a pretty dark place these days. As a matter of fact, the world as a whole has become increasingly darker, more divided, and more hateful.
There is a Bible verse written many centuries ago that states that in the later days, people would increasingly lose all love and compassion for one another. They would in turn only care about themselves, their possessions, and their own comforts, possibly destroying other humans’ lives to achieve a personal agenda. I’d say we have arrived at that time.
But this week, I saw something on my news feed that was like a lighthouse beaming out into a dark, eerie, and stormy night. A gesture so unique and different that it made me remember days long past when this type of interaction seemed to be the norm – a glimmer of hope for humanity. Even if it’s just a small glimmer, a tiny glimmer in such a dark night certainly creates a great contrast.
From my outside and limited perspective, the interaction seemed to begin with someone having a qualm with one of our high school principals here in Suffolk County. Not only did he have a qualm, but it also looks like he addressed it publicly with possibly some unkind words. I’m honestly not sure if it was an open, public forum or a beef limited to the keypad on the phone. But whatever it was, it seemed like it was publicly addressed.
Time passed, maybe wise counsel or other consideration was sought out and given. The gentleman who publicly addressed whatever issue he felt strongly about, picked up his phone again with more to say. The move ended up surfacing on my news feed and went something like this, “I’m really sorry and I’m humbling myself to ask that you’d forgive me. I’m retracting what I said and replacing it with the fact that you’re a good man who has our students’ best interests in the forefront of your mind. I shouldn’t have said what I did and I do hope that you’d fully accept my apology.”
The reply from the one who had been offended was in a similar spirit of mercy, grace and humility. “I accept your apology. There is no perfect person on earth so let’s move forward and achieve greater things for our community and its children.”
Such a light and bright interaction, full of accountability, integrity, honest personal reflection and honorable character. Something we unfortunately see very little of in our public square today.
My friends, these quality interactions between humans, adults and people of influence were supposed to be the norm. I believe at one time they actually were. Instead, the norm has become pride, name-calling, and the labeling of people who we really don’t know at all. There’s no accountability for what we say, which has driven us into an ugly and dark pit. There’s no reflection, taking some honest inventory and humbling ourselves enough to actually apologize. What type of example are we setting for the next generation who is watching all of this?
I often pray and do hope that we return to these long-lost words, or something like them. Words that sound something like, “I really shouldn’t have said that. I misjudged you, I was wrong about you, and I’m truly sorry.”
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” – James 1:19-20
