Note to self

It can't be just me who thinks 

this altered version
of the Serenity Prayer 

is spot on! 

I think every missioner 

heading into a week of intentional communal living 

should commit it to heart.

(Again, maybe it's just me who needs this "Note to Self")

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