426 grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, which is pretty much everyone
Day 426: Sunday May 16th 2021
God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, which is pretty much everyone, since I'm clearly not you, God.
Announcement: Journey of the Universe: Conversations "An epic story of the cosmos, earth, and human transformation"
Steve Lyman and our Education Committee are sponsoring the DVD based course "Journey of the Universe: Conversation" based on a series of interviews with scientists, philosophers and theologians toward a flourishing earth community.
Interviews hosted by Mary Evelyn Tucker of Yale University.
The Course begins tomorrow Monday, May 17th,
Time: 2:00 - 4:00
and will be held at Nancy and Bob McFarland's home in Petaluma:
Their address is:
2404 Marylyn Circle
Petaluma, CA 94954
Please call Call Nancy to sign up (773-0904)
A bit more information about the film Journey of the Universe use this link:
For those of us who spend a lot of time in our cars or are insomniacs, there's a Podcast called "Journey of the Universe." I found it on Apple Podcasts.
Day 426: Sunday May 16th 2021
The New Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, which is pretty much everyone, since I'm clearly not you, God.
The New Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change,
which is pretty much everyone, since I'm clearly not you, God.
At least not the last time I checked.
And while you're at it, God,
please give me the courage to change what I need to change about myself,
which is frankly a lot, since, once again, I'm not you, which means I'm not perfect.
It's better for me to focus on changing myself than to worry about changing other people, who, as you'll no doubt remember me saying, I can't change anyway.
Finally, give me the wisdom to just shut up
whenever I think that I'm clearly smarter than everyone else in the room, t
hat no one knows what they're talking about except me,
or that I alone have all the answers.
Basically, God, grant me the wisdom to remember that I'm not you. Amen
"A Prayer for When I Feel Rejected"
Loving God, you made me who I am. I praise you and I love you,
for I am wonderfully made, in your own image.
But when people make fun of me,
I feel hurt and embarrassed and even ashamed.
So please, God, help me remember my own goodness, which lies in you.
Help me remember my dignity,
which you gave me when I was conceived.
Help me remember that I can live a life of love, because you created my heart.
Be with me when people make me feel "less than," help me to respond the way you would want me to, with a love that respects the other, but also respects me.
Help me find friends who love me for who I am.
Help me, most of all, to be a loving person.
And, God, help me remember that Jesus loves me.
For he too was seen as an outcast. He too was misunderstood.
He too was beaten and spat upon.
Jesus understands me and loves me with a special love, because of the way you made me.
And when I am feeling lonely, help me remember that Jesus welcomed everyone as a friend.
Jesus reminded everyone that God loved them. Jesus encouraged everyone to embrace their dignity, even when others were blind to that dignity.
Jesus loved everyone with the love that you gave him.
And he loves me too.
One more thing, God:
Help me remember that nothing is impossible with you, that you have a way of making things better, that you can find a way of love for me, even if I can't see it right now.
Help me remember all these things in the heart you created, loving God.
Amen
"A Prayer for When I Feel Rejected" excerpted from Building a Bridge, by James Martin, S.J. Reprinted with permission from Harper One Books.