大象传媒

Good morning.

It's been said that we British are rather good at saying 'sorry.' Bump elbows; sneeze loudly; ask a favour: the word 'sorry' escapes our lips before we've had time to think.

But 'sorry' can be a slippery word.

As well as meek politeness, 'sorry' can signal sympathy, indignation, or regret.

And these can mask another meaning: contrition - 'sorry' as a true apology. For some reason we find this sort of 'sorry' the hardest.

The 17th century Book of Common Prayer urges us to confess our 'manifold sins', saying 'we should not dissemble nor cloke them before the face of Almighty God.' Clearly, saying sorry has never been easy.

Today in Australia it's National Sorry Day 鈥� a day in which the nation acknowledges wrongs done to its Aboriginal People.

There's something disarming about this idea 鈥� no 'dissembling nor cloking' here, just a frank acceptance of a wrong that needs putting right. 聽It's not about beating yourself up; it's about deepening your relationships.

Yes, it's difficult: saying sorry means admitting to ourselves first, then others, that we got it wrong. It can carry painful feelings of failure, remorse, and shame. And there may be consequences.

But for all that, there's something refreshing about 'coming clean'. We clear the air. Suddenly, others can live with us. We can live with ourselves. Of course, saying sorry doesn't guarantee you'll be met with forgiveness, but at least it starts to build a bridge.

So I pray, in words of a traditional Anglican confession, 鈥淎lmighty and most merciful Father; we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Amen.鈥�