The Serenity Prayer

On this journey of community and leadership development on the West End I have had to come to terms with some of my own issues and in doing so I've learned a lot about myself and those in the community in which I serve.

For a long time I couldn't figure out why I would get so frustrated with people and how they were living.  My whole reason for being here was to show them a "better way".  It just didn't make any sense to me why people would keep on doing the same thing over and over and expecting things to change.  It wasn't until I began attending celebrate recovery meetings 6-1/2 years ago that I figured it out.  I was just like them and in order to help them I needed to first help myself.  At that point I made a decision to learn and accept the 12-Step process as a lifestyle. I believe the 12-Steps are God map for getting ourselves right God, ourselves and others.  The 12-Steps are not just for drunks, addicts,  they are a way to clean ourselves out  with the help of others so that we can interact with people through our spirit instead of through the issues of our soul (mind, will and emotions).

After all these years, I still get frustrated with people, however I have learned to accept where they are and chose to love them anyway.    And one way I've been able to make this change is through the Serenity Prayer.  The first two lines of this prayer have been used on plaques, jewelry, bookmarks, etc.  But it is the whole prayer that leads me to a place of Serenity and Peace where I am able to offer others grace. 


So next time you get frustrated with yourself or others, pray this prayer:

Amen.