The American Internal Revenue Service reported the case of a taxpayer who wrote to them saying, “I have not been able to sleep well for two years so I am sending my cheque for twelve hundred dollars in back taxes.” He then added a short P.S. “If I don’t sleep better in a week, I will send you another twelve hundred.” It was a case of wanting to do something to relieve his guilt, but not wanting to do too much.

Unfortunately, tokenism doesn’t work when dealing with problems of the conscience and the soul. One of the great texts of the Bible is where God says “You will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” That’s why repentance – facing the truth about ourselves and doing a complete about turn – has always been the required first step to peace.