One way to get at the meaning of the principle of acceptance is to meditate upon it in the context of a much used prayer...Serenity Prayer.
Essentially this is to ask for the resources of grace by which one may make spiritual progress under all conditions. Greatly emphasized in this wonderful prayer is a need for the kind of wisdom that discriminates between the possible and the impossible. We shall also see that life's formidable array of pains and problems will require many different degrees of acceptance as we try to apply this valued principle. Sometimes we have to find the right kind of acceptance for each day. Sometimes we need to
develop acceptance for what may come to pass tomorrow, and yet again we shall have to accept a condition that may never change. Then, too, there frequently has to be a right and realistic acceptance of grievous flaws within ourselves and serious faults within those about us...defects that may not be fully remedied for years, if ever. All of us will encounter failures, some retrievable and some not. We shall often meet with defeat, sometimes by accident, sometimes self-inflicted, and still
at other times dealt to us by the injustice and violence of other people. Most of us will meet up with some degree of worldly success, and here the problem of the right kind of acceptance will be really difficult. Then there will be illness and death. How indeed, one may ask, shall we be able to accept all these things. It is always worthwhile to consider how grossly that good word acceptance can be misused. It can be warped to justify nearly every brand of weakness, nonsense, and folly.
Therefore, as for this life...spiritual fortitude comes about by accepting ones present circumstances
as they are, and the people about us as they are. This is to adopt a realistic humility without which no genuine advance can even begin. The exercise in acceptance can be profitable, if practiced every day. Friends, now coming of two decades, I cannot stress enough, the profound spiritual effect in my life that acceptance has allowed for a better well being within. By the grace of God. Believe it.
Peace, love and hope unto all that are close by, and for all to come to know the Holy Spirit of Christ our Lord God, dwells within ones own self. Believe it.
Essentially this is to ask for the resources of grace by which one may make spiritual progress under all conditions. Greatly emphasized in this wonderful prayer is a need for the kind of wisdom that discriminates between the possible and the impossible. We shall also see that life's formidable array of pains and problems will require many different degrees of acceptance as we try to apply this valued principle. Sometimes we have to find the right kind of acceptance for each day. Sometimes we need to
develop acceptance for what may come to pass tomorrow, and yet again we shall have to accept a condition that may never change. Then, too, there frequently has to be a right and realistic acceptance of grievous flaws within ourselves and serious faults within those about us...defects that may not be fully remedied for years, if ever. All of us will encounter failures, some retrievable and some not. We shall often meet with defeat, sometimes by accident, sometimes self-inflicted, and still
at other times dealt to us by the injustice and violence of other people. Most of us will meet up with some degree of worldly success, and here the problem of the right kind of acceptance will be really difficult. Then there will be illness and death. How indeed, one may ask, shall we be able to accept all these things. It is always worthwhile to consider how grossly that good word acceptance can be misused. It can be warped to justify nearly every brand of weakness, nonsense, and folly.
Therefore, as for this life...spiritual fortitude comes about by accepting ones present circumstances
as they are, and the people about us as they are. This is to adopt a realistic humility without which no genuine advance can even begin. The exercise in acceptance can be profitable, if practiced every day. Friends, now coming of two decades, I cannot stress enough, the profound spiritual effect in my life that acceptance has allowed for a better well being within. By the grace of God. Believe it.
Peace, love and hope unto all that are close by, and for all to come to know the Holy Spirit of Christ our Lord God, dwells within ones own self. Believe it.
