JMJ
Relying on myself for salvation from the trials of life invites misery, because I cannot bend life itself to fit my ever-changing and weakly-founded preferences. Inevitably I hit my head against a wall and choose to avoid that pain with food, sex, possessions, drugs, and/or approval among a host of other distractions. I continue the vicious cycle of pain and distraction ad nauseum. In this ignorant foolishness I replace God, the creator of the universe, with the false idol of my fragile self, and so I pray…
Self, grant me the misery to obsess over the things I cannot change, cowardice to avoid the things I can, and foolishness to ignore the difference.
“The people in darkness have seen a great light…” Isaiah 9:2
Eventually I am blessed to hit rock bottom and realize my old ways are failing me, have always been feeling me. They never really worked and never will work for the deeper purpose I sought from them. I realize I am just a fragile human in a colossal universe created a power beyond even my understanding much less my control.
However, my Creator has blessed me with some dominion in this world, and so I set out to change what little I have control over. These changes improve both my life and the lives of those around me. With gratitude I steward my dominion and these blessings, while growing in understanding and better discerning what heals and what hurts. And so I pray…
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.
Saunter 