Regret

When I hear a remorseful person say that they're going to live with the pain of what they've done for the rest of their life, I have multiple reactions.

• I wonder if they truly understand how much pain the survivors of their actions are in, and just want to let them know that they understand and are sharing in their pain, or whether they are merely absorbed by the painful consequences in their own life.
• If they are sincere, my heart goes out to them, because of my personal knowledge of the truth of how lasting true remorse is. Sometimes I tend to focus on the pain in my own soul, but I usually turn my thoughts to the aftermath of the people I've hurt - the one directly and the rest indirectly - especially as I see the decisions they make in their own life and wonder how much those decisions are rooted in their brokenness.
• I tend to pray that the person will be surrounded by people who can share forgiveness with them, as I have been so blessed to have. When someone is on their way to prison, I pray all the more for them, as that can be a hard place to find mercy.

Today's downer brought to you on behalf of the FAMU band guy who was convicted in the hazing death that occurred.