Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Serene Serenity


Pictured above is a version of the Serenity Prayer. It originated in the 1940's and is accredited (perhaps falsely) to a theologian by the name of Reinhold Niebuhr. Most versions have the words "grace" or “God” somewhere in them. There is an extended version ending in "his will, not mine, be done". The creators of the 12 Step Program adopted the Serenity Prayer and published the following version in their handbook.

"Please grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference."

If it’s good enough to provide drug users and alcohol abusers with strength and solace, I’m sure others can benefit from it as well. If you believe in God, appeal to him/her. If you don’t, use the “prayer” to appeal to the divinity within yourself or to petition the universe for spiritual support…or don’t. But, I, for one, LOVE it.

1 comment:

Skinny! said...

you should print the serenity prayer and hand them to homeless schizophrenic people that you attract