God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
After having some time to reflect on what matters most to me over Easter weekend, I kept coming back to the always-centering Serenity Prayer. The Serenity Prayer repeatedly has been helpful in my own life, and I believe it can be a grounding, guiding force for all Americans who cherish our great nation and the freedoms we hold dear during this chaotic time in our history. Its timeless wisdom encourages self-reflection, inspires courage, and suggests a path forward as we work together to preserve our nation and our freedom.
When we look around to see division and manufactured chaos coming at us from all sides in efforts to weaken our resolve and to have us willingly surrender our promise, our liberty, and our privacy to a supranational, global, public-private partnership that has seemingly captured our government, it can get overwhelming. The “crises” and fake-news headlines are meant to demoralize and threaten us, but that is up to you, not the agents of chaos.
The simple truths of the Serenity Prayer remind us that as human beings and Americans, we have an incredible power: the power to choose how we respond to what is happening. By asking for the serenity to accept the things we can’t change, we give ourselves the freedom to focus on what really matters — cherishing our loved ones, investing our time and energy in our communities, and actively showing up wherever we feel our gifts and purpose can best be used to be positive change agents in this all-hands-on-deck effort.
Now, accepting what we can’t change doesn’t mean sitting it out or waiting for someone else to do the heavy lifting! Not even close. The prayer is meant to inflame the raw courage to change the things we actually can. And let me tell you, there’s nothing more American than rolling up our sleeves and getting to work to make a difference in our sphere of influence. Whether it’s volunteering our time to ensure honest elections, supporting local farms and businesses, or stepping up to run for office, the options for involvement are endless.
The key is knowing where to focus our energy. That’s where the wisdom part comes in — figuring out what we can change and what we can’t. By being smart about how we direct our efforts, we can make the biggest positive impact on our communities and our country. Sure, there is a tremendous amount of work to be done, but take that as a call to duty by zeroing in on what you individually can do. We can accomplish incredible things, just as those who fought for freedom in 1776 did before us.
Let the Serenity Prayer be a reminder of the unshakable hope and resilience that define the American spirit that lives within every single one of us. Believe the truth that no matter what challenges come our way, we have the strength, the heart, and the wisdom to rise above and keep reaching for that brighter tomorrow. In the enduring words of the prayer, we trust that by staying true to our values, keeping the faith, and working hard, we can make this great nation the very best it can be and strive for that more perfect union. The power of the people — you and me — is indomitable, if we can rise to the occasion! Let’s stop the division and join hands, lift our voices, and make America's future what we the people want it to be!