Sunday Musings – April 5, 2020
Serenity
Every day I share my spiritual intention with at least a couple of individuals. I select an intention based on the struggle de jour or an ongoing challenge in my spiritual life. My spiritual life is grounded in my core values and the fact that “just for today” I want to leave a footprint which not only does no harm but in some manner leaves the universe with a little more positive and healing energy than it had at the beginning of the day. One of the issues with which I and many others struggle is acceptance of powerlessness over people, places and things which we deem important.
I was aware of being powerless over people, places and things as a young man but acceptance was not even a goal. When I became a parent I experienced the frustration of powerlessness at a new level. When our son had discomfort because of illness or some other reason and neither I nor his mother could do anything to relieve his discomfort I felt very frustrated and sad. I had, by that time, intellectually accepted that there were a number of adults whose behavior I could not change no matter how much I tried. I also knew, of course, I could not change some basic characteristics about myself. I was never going to be the town hunk, learn quicker than my oldest sister, make my mother happy, or stop feuding between adult members of my family of origin. Neither was I, by myself, going to change the involvement of the United States military in Vietnam, solve the world’s hunger issue, close all prisons, or solve a host of other problems or issues. My brain was not going to experience the world in the same way as many of my classmates. The list of people, places and things over which I had and have no power grew longer everyday. Yet, as I matured emotionally and spiritually with the help of therapists, mentors and other kind and wise people, I could begin to practice acceptance of what I could not change or control and focus more on what I could control. I was able to go to college; initially one class at a time. I was able to become active in a church which served the needs of many in downtown Washington, D.C. I could aspire to treat others the way I wanted to be treated but not allow others to determine how I thought or behaved. I could be intentional about finding wise mentors who would gladly share their wisdom with me. (Actually many had always shared their wisdom, but I had not always followed their advice.) I could pursue my dreams and not attempt to fulfill the dreams others had for me
I still get frustrated when life presents situations which arouse passion in me and over which I have no control. Covid-19 has presented all of us with the reminder that we are not in charge. There will come a time when we can again safely share close contact, even physical affection, with each other. We will again be able to safely visit a restaurant, department stores, and cultural events. We will find an effective treatment for most cases, discover a vaccine or the virus will itself undergo some change. In the meantime we can practice social distancing.do all we can to make sure those treating ill individuals have the safety equipment they need, and exercise compassion and common sense regarding who we keep in facilities such as jails. We have survived past pandemics as a species and will undoubtedly survive this one.
I can be grateful for all the wise teaches such as Reinhold Niebuhr whose serenity prayer have helped many move a little closer to serenity. The short version is.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom the difference.
If lucky we may get adept at noticing when we are off center and quickly return to a place of acceptance and, thus, serenity. We may even graduate to the second paragraph of Reinhold Niebuhr’s prayer:
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Many have noticed that many of us humans in times of crisis/hardships reach deep within ourselves and find the peace which comes from acceptance of the fact that we are all members of a sacred community who can work as one.
Just for today I will practice living the serenity prayer. Just for today I will entertain the possibility that hardships can be a pathway to peace.
Written April 5, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
Serenity
Every day I share my spiritual intention with at least a couple of individuals. I select an intention based on the struggle de jour or an ongoing challenge in my spiritual life. My spiritual life is grounded in my core values and the fact that “just for today” I want to leave a footprint which not only does no harm but in some manner leaves the universe with a little more positive and healing energy than it had at the beginning of the day. One of the issues with which I and many others struggle is acceptance of powerlessness over people, places and things which we deem important.
I was aware of being powerless over people, places and things as a young man but acceptance was not even a goal. When I became a parent I experienced the frustration of powerlessness at a new level. When our son had discomfort because of illness or some other reason and neither I nor his mother could do anything to relieve his discomfort I felt very frustrated and sad. I had, by that time, intellectually accepted that there were a number of adults whose behavior I could not change no matter how much I tried. I also knew, of course, I could not change some basic characteristics about myself. I was never going to be the town hunk, learn quicker than my oldest sister, make my mother happy, or stop feuding between adult members of my family of origin. Neither was I, by myself, going to change the involvement of the United States military in Vietnam, solve the world’s hunger issue, close all prisons, or solve a host of other problems or issues. My brain was not going to experience the world in the same way as many of my classmates. The list of people, places and things over which I had and have no power grew longer everyday. Yet, as I matured emotionally and spiritually with the help of therapists, mentors and other kind and wise people, I could begin to practice acceptance of what I could not change or control and focus more on what I could control. I was able to go to college; initially one class at a time. I was able to become active in a church which served the needs of many in downtown Washington, D.C. I could aspire to treat others the way I wanted to be treated but not allow others to determine how I thought or behaved. I could be intentional about finding wise mentors who would gladly share their wisdom with me. (Actually many had always shared their wisdom, but I had not always followed their advice.) I could pursue my dreams and not attempt to fulfill the dreams others had for me
I still get frustrated when life presents situations which arouse passion in me and over which I have no control. Covid-19 has presented all of us with the reminder that we are not in charge. There will come a time when we can again safely share close contact, even physical affection, with each other. We will again be able to safely visit a restaurant, department stores, and cultural events. We will find an effective treatment for most cases, discover a vaccine or the virus will itself undergo some change. In the meantime we can practice social distancing.do all we can to make sure those treating ill individuals have the safety equipment they need, and exercise compassion and common sense regarding who we keep in facilities such as jails. We have survived past pandemics as a species and will undoubtedly survive this one.
I can be grateful for all the wise teaches such as Reinhold Niebuhr whose serenity prayer have helped many move a little closer to serenity. The short version is.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom the difference.
If lucky we may get adept at noticing when we are off center and quickly return to a place of acceptance and, thus, serenity. We may even graduate to the second paragraph of Reinhold Niebuhr’s prayer:
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Many have noticed that many of us humans in times of crisis/hardships reach deep within ourselves and find the peace which comes from acceptance of the fact that we are all members of a sacred community who can work as one.
Just for today I will practice living the serenity prayer. Just for today I will entertain the possibility that hardships can be a pathway to peace.
Written April 5, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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