“Prayer begins where
human capacity ends.”
~Marian Anderson
Last month I wrote about some of the crises from 2023 you might be carrying into the New Year and
encouraged you to create a plan for handling stress. This month I’m suggesting that when a life
challenge continues to weigh heavy, try giving the situation over to a higher power through prayer or
meditation.
Recently a college football player gained national attention by his practice of sitting in front of the
goalpost before every game to meditate. He is quoted as saying, “Meditation can take you more
calmly through the day.”
While modifying the words to fit the situation, I often use this simple prayer or mantra: “May God
dwell in my/their heart; May I/they be free from suffering; May I/they be healed; May I/they be at
peace.” As I’m saying this prayer, I like to visualize myself, or the other, at peace and in the presence
of the Divine.
Sometimes I also repeat the Serenity Prayer to remind me of my limitations and to help me keep
perspective: “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.”
May peace be with you this day and throughout 2024,
Rebecca Hauder, BSN, M.Ed.