Father James Martin SJ - New Serenity Prayer

Several days ago, I posted the serenity prayer on my website.  I really love that prayer.  I have a framed copy of it in my rectory that a social worker friend gave to me.  That prayer gives me a lot of strength.  Father James Martin, SJ wrote a new serenity prayer.  It provides a lot of wisdom as well.  

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,

that 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