Repentance isn’t about blame, or avoiding the cost of being blamed. It’s about putting on a new mind, that is, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes, changing one’s opinions and behaviors in order to come closer to God’s desire. Repentance seeks change, not blame.

Repentance plows looking forward with trust, not scowling backward at what has been lost to time. Repentance takes responsibility, not delight in passing responsibility on to others. Repentance doesn’t seek to restore an orderly universe. Repentance seeks the divine spark that alone can guide us through the darkness and chaos.

from On a Journey