Was Ali McGraw Right

was ali mcgraw right?
tim pezzelle
2012-01

"love means never having to say you're sorry"
 
i have found that the opposite is true in my life... i am a very, very clumsy expression of what God had in mind when He breathed life into adam. adam was a pretty clumsy expression, come to think of it - so i'm definitely related.
 
i guess the sentiment in that quote is something more like - "i love you, and i know you love me.... i know that your heart grieves over what has happened, and i hear your heart.... those words aren't necessary between us". but, let's face it, that's a long way to go and erich segal did a pretty good job crafting that line of dialog.
 
but the truth is this: "i'm sorry" is one of the best things we can say - but only when it is genuine. those words carry a profound weight. they recognize our own shortcoming and failure. they acknowledge and validate the hurt we have caused. they affirm the value we place on the one we have wronged. they shout that "we" is more important than "me". i think they hold the promise that something important has been learned. depending on the depth of the relationship, "i'm sorry" can be another way of saying "i love you" or "let's work it out".
 
even where we all share a common bond in the Spirit, i am able to screw things up.... that's me. fallen and frail. utterly human, but because of God's grace, utterly redeemed.
 
Lord, i'm so sorry.... those nails, that crown of thorns, the stripes....  the weight of my sin....   i'm so sorry.
 
tim