Seth Barnes Jun 11, 2008 8:00 PM

Is it ever too late to apologize?

Maybe you've heard that song by One Republic, "Too Late to Apologize." It has gotten more "spins" on the radio than any other single in history in a c...

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Maybe you've heard that song by One Republic, "Too Late to Apologize." It has gotten more "spins" on the radio than any other single in history in a comparable time period. It's a catchy tune - maybe too much so - I woke up with it playing over and over in my head this morning.

The songwriter, Ryan Tedder, is a strong Christian who regularly stands up for his faith, but in this case, his theology is off. It's never too late to apologize or to seek healing in relationships. Jesus set the example for us on the cross as he was dying. In his last moments, he forgave his executioners. It wasn't too late. Many people teetering on the edge of death struggle to let go because they need to apologize and have believed the lie that it's too late. But even in that final chapter of life, the human spirit yearns for reconciliation, for a tidying up of unfinished business.

There's something in us that longs for the spiritual concept of shalom - a sense of wholeness in relationships. And when the shalom is broken, our spirits know it even if we don't. This business of forgiveness and reconciliation is at the heart of Christianity - it's what distinguishes it from any other works-based religion.

God wants us to move from brokenness to wholeness. God wants to pry us out of our brokenness by having us acknowledge it to those we've hurt. Whether in seeking forgiveness or bestowing it as a sheer act of grace, it's never too late. Ask God today and he may show you who needs a call from you. And when you hear "it's too late to apologize," don't you believe it.

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