9/5/06 Our Father in heaven – we thank you again for the opportunities of life here on earth – for your caring and grace and your patience with us. Help us to be equally forgiving and trusting of others and to live in peace with ourselves. Amen
Two things really surprised about this prayer: it was not given at church (it was a Tuesday date) and initially Dad had written; “live in peace with others.” He scratched that out to make it read, “live in peace with ourselves. ”
Dad didn’t scratch out words too often, but when he did the end result was always more intense, and insightful.
How do we live in peace with ourselves? How do we guard against warring elements? How do we coexist (picture that bumper sticker) only all the symbols are the pieces of ourselves we try to sweep under the carpet or hide on a shelf, hoping they’ll expire like something beyond its date in the grocery store. Like the grocery store, our hidden sides get worse and deteriorate, until they must be removed from the places we’ve tucked them away, because they reek.
Is that what Dad meant, to live in peace with ourselves? To clean house? Or, to be at least on speaking terms with the things we’ve been through that have caused us torment. Maybe, it is walking in acceptance and realization of all of our flaws. Not being afraid of them. Humbled and patient with ourselves.
I don’t know. What do you think?
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