For the first 28 years of my working life, I was employed by one of the major banks.
At my first branch, most of the business was transacted face to face, by telephone or by handwritten letters. I am not sure if a copy was retained, and it was before photocopiers. On my transfer to a much larger branch, I encountered secretaries who would come and sit with you and, with the ability of shorthand, would take dictation before handing the letter for signing by an authorised person. Usually, the letter would be presented in a much better way than when dictated.
In the name of “progress,” years later, secretaries were replaced by typists, and Dictaphone machines were introduced. Later, even managers had to type their own letters. This was something I had to perform after I moved to work for two different charities.
On one occasion, I received a letter from a well-known insurance company that contained over 12 errors, mostly spelling. I was so disgusted that I copied it, highlighted the errors and sent it to them with the suggestion that they should purchase a spell checker. Not surprisingly, I didn’t have a reply.
I recall, on occasions, looking at the copy of a letter I had typed some months earlier and noticing an error I had overlooked. As I was once told, when you read something, you have written, you know what it should say, so it is easy to miss a mistake.
When I retire to bed for the night, I like to “pray” looking back over the events of the day. I find it helpful to remind myself of the many blessings to thank God for, but to recall anything that needs confessing. In the same way, as it is easy to miss a typing error, so it is to miss something that may need confessing, based on my standard, not God’s Holiness. Years ago, it was quite common to hear people using the expression about sinning, known or unknown.
I am so grateful for the scripture that encourages us that “the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses from ALL sin. Please check the context as well – 1 John chapter 1.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may our relationship with you be such that we are immediately aware of anything sinful or that may hinder our relationship with you. AMEN