“God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,/Courage to change the things we can,/And the wisdom to know the difference.”
These lines of profound wisdom were first noticed by a member of AA (Alcoholic’s Anonymous) in a New York Herald Tribune obituary in early 1942. Thus, the first serenity prayer came to be recognized and became the very life, philosophy, and soul of the AA Fellowship. It has appeared alongside two other prayers, namely, The Lord’s Prayer, and the Prayer of St. Francis.
The actual genesis of these lines is cloaked in ambiguity. The prayer is thought to have been around for centuries, and some even trace it to ancient Sanskrit texts. However, no substantial proof has ever been found to establish the origin of the prayer or its author, although Dr Rheinhold Niebuhr claimed to have written the “tag line” to an oration delivered on Practical Christianity.
The Serenity Prayer is not only embraced by the AA fellowship. The poem brings solace to many other lost souls. The quest for true bliss and contentment is an ongoing search, pursued by many members of the human race. An individual, in this quest, can fall victim to numerous addictions, such as addiction to pleasure, work, love, or alcohol. He/she can even victimize others to achieve this goal. Real bliss, however, eludes those who fail to accept their failings and love their inner selves, including their shortcomings. The realization of self and its empowerment is the path to true serenity.
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