| The Serenity Prayer
Does anyone know the history of this prayer (i.e. Where it originated. When did it become common in AA. etc etc)???
The reason I ask is this - I was at a meeting outside of my normal meetings last night (to hear my grand-sponsor speak), and they opened the meeting with the Serenity Prayer. After I had said it, the guy next to me, who I know well and very much respect - leaned over and said "You know, that prayer is nowhere in our literature." I then realized he did not say the prayer along with this group. I know why HE didn't say it - but that is outside the topic of this thread.
It got me thinking - the prayer doesn't ask God to lead and that I have given my life over to him, it's more along the lines of "Let me continue to be me, and be OK with God's world.." Like, if I have turned my will and my life over to the care of God as I understand Him - why do I need to ask for the serenity to accept that choice? (btw - acceptance has rarely been the result of feeling 'serene' - it has always been uncomfortable to accept something new.)
Thoughts?
(for the record - I am not trying to take issue with the prayer- it has been on my mind since last night though and I realized the groups I go to on a regular basis never use the prayer, I just never noticed that it wasn't part of those meetings).
~Adam
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