New Year's Eve 2013

New Year's Eve 2013. In cleaning off my messy desk, I stumbled across Reinhold Niebuhr's Prayer for Serenity. Most people are familiar with the first few lines, but the prayer in its entirety is perhaps the most wise, realistic, and sane expression of hope for 2014 that I can think of - it's my prayer for myself, my family, and for you. Hopeful New Year everyone.....

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
If I surrender to your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

AMEN