Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The word after sorry makes all the difference...

You break something. Again.
You arrive late from an activity and parents are waiting.
You write the incorrect details on a note.
You forget the keys to the accommodation you're staying at.

Mistakes happen.

Commonly, as pointed out in this post about avoiding getting fired in ministry, there can be two responses.

I'm sorry, BUT...
I'm sorry, AND...

These two sentences are not the same.

One raises defenses.
The other heads towards solutions.

One wants to give excuses.
The other wants to ensure systems improve.

One looks at what has happened in the past.
The other looks towards the future.

Unfortunately, those in youth ministry - including me - tend to deploy the first "apology" instead of initiating the later...

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