[Christina86]

I thought I would share this, I hope nobody minds. It is also quite possible to switch "He" with "She" or "It", or whatever else you refer to as your higher power/God.

I know that a lot of people have heard of the Serenity Prayer. If I'm not mistaken, it is quite commonly associated with AA and other addiction related peer-support groups.

But... most people do not know that it is far longer and more spiritual than it appears to be.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right,
if I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.

- Reinhold Niebuhr

[Fuzzybear]

[Rapunzel]

Thanks Christina! The rest of the prayer adds a whole lot more depth.

[recluse1]

Thank you for posting this prayer in it's entirety. This is one that I have always loved and strive to remember when the noise in life is nearly too much to handle.

[AAAAA]

My absolute favorite prayer. I learned it when we were going to family counseling when my father quit drinking. I was young and it made so much sense. These words have offered me comfort and clarity more times than I can count.

[recluse1]

Just wanted to bump this back up!

[nowheretorun]

thanks for posting this Christina

without going into a lot of detail, i remember reading this as a young man after it was shown to me by some caring others...

at the time it was explained to me that i wasnt to struggle greatly over what the higher power i chose to be was.. rather, its only aim was that i believe in something greater than myself ....

it was said i could use a rock or a tree or any of the traditional belief systems or anything whatever i chose, didnt matter..... the important matter was to choose one which worked for me....

it was very confusing and difficult at that time to understand (i was only about 16 at the time)

but i took these kind people at their word and attempted to apply the prayer in my life as i struggled with ego collapse...

serenity is indeed a beautiful possession..

((Christina))))

[recluse1]

"Trusting that He will make all things right,
if I surrender to His will."

Right now, this line speaks to my heart. Thank you agian for this reminder!

[SeptemberMorn]

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;"

Amen to that!

[Rapunzel]

"Trusting that He will make all things right,
if I surrender to His will."

This is powerful. And I think it is the essence of a lot of the differences that occur between people of different beliefs here. For some of us, the way to peace is to trust in Him and surrender to Him and count on Him to do for us what we can't do for ourselves.

I think that a lot of those who object to our message are uncomfortable with it because they don't feel that they should have to surrender or submit to anyone or anything. They want to find all of the power and everything they need within themselves. They don't want us to remind them that there is another way or an external source of help. When they tell us what we can and can't talk about, they are telling us that we should be like them and give up the source of our hope and peace, and look to our own understanding instead. But that doesn't work for us. This is where the misunderstandings come from. They think we should be fine with it, and can't see that what they are taking away is the very element of what we need.

Not that we should sit down and expect Him to do everything for us. There needs to also be balance. He expects us to do our own work and put forth all the effort that we can. The promise is that after we have done all that we can do, He will make up the difference, and will make all things right.

[recluse1]

When we put forth the effort, God consistantly meets us half way!

[SeptemberMorn]

Exactly, Wendy! Thank you so much for your wise and insightful post!

Like Sky said in another post... <font color="blue">ROCK ON!!</font>

[Rapunzel]

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own dunderstanding.

[Danialla]

The supreme prayer of my heart is not to be learned, rich, famous, powerful, or "good", but simply to be radiant. I desire to radiate health, cheerfulness, calm courage, and good will. I wish to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy, fear.

I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffected - as ready to say "I do not know", if it be so, and to meet all men on an absolute equality - to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid.

I wish others to live their lives, too - up to their highest, fullest, and best. To that end I pray that I may never meddle, interfere, dictate, give advice that is not wanted, or assist when my services are not needed. If I can help people, I'll do it by giving them a chance to help themselves; and if I can uplift or inspire, let it be by example, inference, and suggestion, rather than by injunction and dictation. That is to say, I desire to be radiant - to radiate life.

-Elbert Hubbard, Love, Life & Work; Roycroft Press, 1906