Welcome, Welcome, Welcome

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I'm always looking for prayers, poems, quotes, and lines that inspire me and make me think... Or ones that convict me to be a better human... Or give me a platform from which to leap further into the world, rather than away from it. 

 And sometimes the thing I discover is so unbelievably perfect that I can't help but write it down, ponder it, and sometimes share it with you here in these little reflections I write every day. 

 I recently discovered a prayer that was adapted by Fr. Thomas Keating, and then adapted again by Fr. Richard Rohr, and adapted by me. 

 Feel free to shape your own adaption to it---apparently, this is a thing. 

 Welcome, welcome, welcome. 
I welcome everything that comes to me today
because I know it's for my healing and growth. 
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons,
situations and conditions.
I let go of my desire for power and control. 
I let go of my desire for affection and esteem,
approval, and pleasure.
I let go of my desire for survival and security.
I let go of my desire to change any situation,
condition, person or myself.
I open myself to the love and presence of God and
God's actions within me, all around me and through me.  Amen. 

 I've decided to begin each day with this prayer for a while.  I want to see how it shapes me.  There's so much within this prayer that I long for: freedom from unhealthy attachments, connections with the Divine, peace through surrender...

 But the kind of peace and inner joy this prayer describes can only come through intentionality.  

 I can speak about these things all I want, but if I don't bend my spirit and my will toward God, if I don't lean into surrender, it's a bit like whiling away your life dreaming of winning the lottery without ever buying a ticket. 

Use this prayer if you like.  Change it to suit you, if you feel the need.  But I hope it is a blessing.  

 May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.  

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