In 1943 Reinhold Niebuhr, one of the Twentieth century's most prominent religious leaders , put together a short prayer offered at the time in a local church service:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships 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. Amen.
Niebuhr's prayer, long ago entitled "The Serenity Prayer", became one of the most widely recited prayers, with first few lines being adopted by the folks in Alcoholics Anonymous. It seeks "peace" (individual and social) in times of turmoil, despair, and uncertainty. Said daily, it becomes a petition seeking the promise of Philipians 4:7 ("His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.")
These days I find myself speaking Niebuhr's words more and more frequently, both in response to world events as well as things active in my own life. The Serenity Prayer reminds me of two important facts: (1) our experiences and graces are a gift from God for which we are, at best, merely stewards and (2) tending that gift properly necessitates recognizing that we have little control over what other people do or say. As long as I remember this twinfold reality I remain centered, focused, and able to withstand the hostility and indifference of others toward me and my special charge.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships 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. Amen.
Niebuhr's prayer, long ago entitled "The Serenity Prayer", became one of the most widely recited prayers, with first few lines being adopted by the folks in Alcoholics Anonymous. It seeks "peace" (individual and social) in times of turmoil, despair, and uncertainty. Said daily, it becomes a petition seeking the promise of Philipians 4:7 ("His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.")
These days I find myself speaking Niebuhr's words more and more frequently, both in response to world events as well as things active in my own life. The Serenity Prayer reminds me of two important facts: (1) our experiences and graces are a gift from God for which we are, at best, merely stewards and (2) tending that gift properly necessitates recognizing that we have little control over what other people do or say. As long as I remember this twinfold reality I remain centered, focused, and able to withstand the hostility and indifference of others toward me and my special charge.
