| MAY 1, 2024 -- 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. Many of you will recognize these words above as the Serenity Prayer. The original prayer, in German, was composed by Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in 1932. Since then, in minor variations, it has been widely adopted by various groups, most notably Alcoholic Anonymous, as a guide for living. For me it has many applications, among them the control of anger.
When I was younger there were many times when I lost my temper and lashed out at things. Over the years I gradually mellowed so that these incidents became fewer and less severe, so that usually I appear to be relatively calm and collected, although I can be rather emphatic when the occasion requires it.
Learning to accept what cannot be changed has a long history. There are several Bible passages that talk about this, some of which also include the peace of mind which comes with this acceptance, for instance in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In Proverbs we find: Proverbs 29:11. “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” And the “Patience of Job” is proverbial [although, admittedly, Job was not always patient].
What about “The Wisdom to know the difference”? Most of us are capable of finding this wisdom; the problem is that most of us also don’t look for it. Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying “When angry count to 10 before you speak; when very angry count to 100.” This is great advice, since the pause and concentration required is often enough to allow us to come to our senses and realize that anger usually accomplishes nothing. This is the beginning of Wisdom.
Finally, one more old saying worth heeding: “Practice makes Perfect”. The more you practice curbing your anger and learning to accept what cannot be changed, the easier it will become. And don’t forget to ask God for help in learning to accept.
|
