An Afternoon of Serenity

Serenity is one of those emotional and spiritual states that we love, but struggle to find.  Serenity is the presence of peace and the absence of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, the world we live in, is not designed to favor or support serenity. We have to work hard to find and sustain it and they are worth every effort.

This afternoon, the streets of NYC are empty and quiet. A severe snowstorm visited us in the early hours of the morning and decided to hover over us for a while. Schools and colleges canceled classes, several companies had to give the day off, and even a few retailers chose to remain closed for the day.

I have a pretty good view of city life from the window of my midtown apartment. There are only a few cars, taxis, and pedestrians on the street. My phone has only ringed once (my dear mother) and emails have been few. There is a stillness and peace that is hard to describe. Not only has time slowed down, but the snowflakes have brought a joyful serenity to my soul. I was reminded of the Serenity Prayer which I share with you below. Most likely, you’ve come across the first verses of this prayer, attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 – 1971), a great American theologian and philosopher, whose legacy continues to be important to contemporary thought and social ethics.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

This poem packs a lot of truth and how to’s on finding serenity, happiness, and peace.

Question:  How do you find serenity?