The Serenity Prayer - Part 1

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.

Patience for the things that take time
Appreciation for all that we have, and
Tolerance for those with different struggles
Freedom to live beyond the limitations of our past ways, the
Ability to feel your love for us and our love for each other and the
Strength to get up and try again even when we feel it is hopeless.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

The first part of this is a prayer that is often used in the 12 Step Program – and very appropriate in my life.

If I asked 100 friends and acquaintances to describe me, I doubt that any of them would use words like “serene,” or “quiet,” or “calm.” That is really not my personality. People MIGHT say things like “animated,” or “dramatic,” or even “agitated.” But I don’t think this prayer is really referring to personality. I believe it is referring more to the understanding and acceptance that there really and truly are just some things in life that I cannot change.

Unfortunately, I do not very often have the serenity to accept those things, either. I want to change the world – to fit what I think it should be. And when my corner of the world doesn’t fit my picture, I get stressed. What a waste of energy! If I spent as much energy and time changing the things in my life that I CAN control as I spend worrying about and trying to change the things I CANNOT control, then my life would certainly be in a different place right now.

Picture a lake on a night where there is no breeze. A full moon is reflecting in the water. Maybe there is a cricket chirping, or a bullfrog singing, but otherwise, no noise whatsoever. I can feel the peace and tranquility all the way to the depth of my soul.

Sometimes, I need to stop, take a deep breath, and feel that peace. I can’t change traffic in Atlanta, so instead of getting upset when there is an accident that makes me late, I should picture my moonlit lake. I can’t change the way other people act around me, but I can take a deep breath and let it go. One of my goals is to find that serenity at every opportunity.