Atone
The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘atone’ as “to do something that shows you are sorry for something bad that you did or for something that you failed to do.”
The origin of the word is “at one – to make or become united or reconciled; to be in harmony, agree, be in accordance.”
Wednesday is Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, when devout practitioners take this opportunity to review their past year, with a focus on misdeeds or offenses they may have committed. Not eating for twenty-four hours serves as a symbolic ritual of purification, and the day is spent in somber prayer. Many participants take this opportunity to visit with others and make amends.
“You accept certain unlovely things about yourself and manage to live with them. The atonement for such an acceptance is that you make allowances for others – that you cleanse yourself of the sin of self-righteousness.” ~Eric Hoffer
Yom Kippur is a day of reflection, honest self-observation, followed by sincere prayer that one may both give and receive forgiveness.
“True atonement isn’t the periodic shaving of karmic stubble via confessional; it requires deep, truthful change. It means doing the hardest thing of all: not making the same stupid mistake again.” ~Ben Dolnick
“Karma means that all actions have consequences. Grace means that in a moment of atonement – taking responsibility, making amends, asking for forgiveness – all karma is burned.” ~Marianne Williamson
“Nothing erases the past. There is repentance, there is atonement, and there is forgiveness. That is all, but that is enough.” ~Ted Chiang
Whatever your faith, I invite you to take a moment to reflect and to be at one.
