It's important sometimes to re-evaluate and pick apart those bits of wisdom that, through their ubiquity, run the risk of becoming trite or meaningless.
This is a brilliant, prophetic and visionary piece, Diana. Thank you for invoking the Serenity sprayer, and including the version that Niebuhr’s daughter thought was most fitting. I had not thought of the prayer as a way of navigating through this trauma and toxicity and its use as a communal and collective prayer. Thank you for always more broadly opening my mind, heart, spirit and eyes!
Thank you for stirring emotions in me that I have stuffed way down so that I do not have to deal with the daily life in America.
My Sunday sermon was entitled “Are We There Yet?” I did not touch any part of today’s America other than the comparison of our future heavenly home vs our daily chaotic life in America.
It seems that I am trying to distance my sermons from our daily chaos.
Thank you, Diana, for voicing this feeling and the atmosphere it's created. I think so many of us were trained to see prayer as transactional that the sense of surrender can get lost completely. But those little things that don't seem like enough... the accumulation of them seems so incredibly important right now. Not least because it's such a key part of self care. It's true that *I* can't fix it... but maybe the *we* plus the workings of the Spirit... I mean, you never know what the Spirit is up to, even now. (Thinking with a sense of hope I didn't have five minutes ago.)
"... before Trump was elected, one of the authors of Project 2025 bragged about how, if Trump won, their initial goal was to put Americans into trauma." None other than Russell Vought, the major architect of Project 2025, is captured on video saying this to the Heritage Foundation and at a Center for Renewing America event, and many occasions. His audience was buoyed by this statement of intent. Mr Vought is a devout Christian Nationalist alumnus of the right-leaning, Billy Graham-professing Wheaton College in Illinois. We should not be surprised; shocked, dismayed, heart-broken, appalled, angry, but not surprised. There is something so very wrong with this picture.
I wish I had read this yesterday. In partnership with the local Democratic Party we had a social get-together to share how people are feeling. Too much going on, we are overwhelmed, what can we do about it. I think it's human nature to want to fix what hurts, for most anyway. Then it hurts more when we can't fix it. I will, however, share this with the groups that I had invited last night. Thanks.
Diana, I shared this serenity essay with my current events group. I cannot tell you how gratifying it was to see so many marvelously positive responses to it. You put your finger on our problem. It provided a format for thinking and acting on our problem. Thank you.
In addition to the unfolding disaster of Project 2025, I have been caring for my wife who is dying of brain cancer. The Serenity Prayer has been central to my daily life for the past 18 months.
This is just the posting I needed at this moment in time. Old as I am there is energy to do what I am able to support, comfort, provide, and care for others. I especially loved the version of Niebuhr's prayer that his daughter preferred. It provides possibility for caring and continuing to be present to the needs of others and for my own well-being.
Just beautiful. " If enough of us embrace serenity, courage, and wisdom, things will change. But not because a some Golden Age is dawning or a political savior will save us. There’s only the long, hard work of being human — of striving toward love and justice, accompanied by the tender compassion of grace."
Diana, your post today was so helpful. In my own search for guidance to live through the present time I'd forgotten Niebuhr's words. I'll remember them now with greater focus from day to day. And I feel support from you and the community The Cottage has created which I would like to send as well as receive. God bless you.
It's important sometimes to re-evaluate and pick apart those bits of wisdom that, through their ubiquity, run the risk of becoming trite or meaningless.
This is a brilliant, prophetic and visionary piece, Diana. Thank you for invoking the Serenity sprayer, and including the version that Niebuhr’s daughter thought was most fitting. I had not thought of the prayer as a way of navigating through this trauma and toxicity and its use as a communal and collective prayer. Thank you for always more broadly opening my mind, heart, spirit and eyes!
Thank you for stirring emotions in me that I have stuffed way down so that I do not have to deal with the daily life in America.
My Sunday sermon was entitled “Are We There Yet?” I did not touch any part of today’s America other than the comparison of our future heavenly home vs our daily chaotic life in America.
It seems that I am trying to distance my sermons from our daily chaos.
Anyway, thanks for waking me up today.
Thank you, Diana, for voicing this feeling and the atmosphere it's created. I think so many of us were trained to see prayer as transactional that the sense of surrender can get lost completely. But those little things that don't seem like enough... the accumulation of them seems so incredibly important right now. Not least because it's such a key part of self care. It's true that *I* can't fix it... but maybe the *we* plus the workings of the Spirit... I mean, you never know what the Spirit is up to, even now. (Thinking with a sense of hope I didn't have five minutes ago.)
"... before Trump was elected, one of the authors of Project 2025 bragged about how, if Trump won, their initial goal was to put Americans into trauma." None other than Russell Vought, the major architect of Project 2025, is captured on video saying this to the Heritage Foundation and at a Center for Renewing America event, and many occasions. His audience was buoyed by this statement of intent. Mr Vought is a devout Christian Nationalist alumnus of the right-leaning, Billy Graham-professing Wheaton College in Illinois. We should not be surprised; shocked, dismayed, heart-broken, appalled, angry, but not surprised. There is something so very wrong with this picture.
I wish I had read this yesterday. In partnership with the local Democratic Party we had a social get-together to share how people are feeling. Too much going on, we are overwhelmed, what can we do about it. I think it's human nature to want to fix what hurts, for most anyway. Then it hurts more when we can't fix it. I will, however, share this with the groups that I had invited last night. Thanks.
Once again, you light, and enlighten, our way. Thank you.
Add me to the community saying this prayer each day each moment.
Wow, this is so good! Thank you so much! I've always liked this prayer but never thought of it from theses perspectives! Your post helps--A LOT!!!
Diana, I shared this serenity essay with my current events group. I cannot tell you how gratifying it was to see so many marvelously positive responses to it. You put your finger on our problem. It provided a format for thinking and acting on our problem. Thank you.
Wonderful and encouraging - we will share and ponder and pray this in our Prayer Circle tomorrow.
In addition to the unfolding disaster of Project 2025, I have been caring for my wife who is dying of brain cancer. The Serenity Prayer has been central to my daily life for the past 18 months.
Oh, Charles. What a load you are carrying. May you sense the grace and love of the Spirit surrounding both you and your wife.
Thank. Peace and every good.
This is just the posting I needed at this moment in time. Old as I am there is energy to do what I am able to support, comfort, provide, and care for others. I especially loved the version of Niebuhr's prayer that his daughter preferred. It provides possibility for caring and continuing to be present to the needs of others and for my own well-being.
I am going to see if we can make a poster out of your wonderful message.
Let you know
Just beautiful. " If enough of us embrace serenity, courage, and wisdom, things will change. But not because a some Golden Age is dawning or a political savior will save us. There’s only the long, hard work of being human — of striving toward love and justice, accompanied by the tender compassion of grace."
Diana, your post today was so helpful. In my own search for guidance to live through the present time I'd forgotten Niebuhr's words. I'll remember them now with greater focus from day to day. And I feel support from you and the community The Cottage has created which I would like to send as well as receive. God bless you.