The heart of the word “repent” comes from the Greek word metanoia, which refers to a complete turn-around of one’s self, choosing a new direction. It’s not simply understanding the error of a certain action and choosing not to perform that action again, but rather, using one’s experience of one’s own actions, and one’s understanding of their own need to repent to choose a new direction for their life. Not action-by-action, but a completely new understanding of what it means to live in the world.

It is less about what is wrong with what we are doing now, and more about what is right and important, and necessary to do differently in the future.

Repentance isn’t change for the sake of change, but change for the sake of re-aligning one’s self with God’s vision and deep desire for peace and equality for all people, and how we, as people, live into, and live for God’s vision for humanity.