The Serenity Prayer - Random Sunday Nonsense Series 7

© Mind Curry 2004 - 2007

Above: The Eiffel Tower

Looking at the Eiffel Tower, something that struck me, beyond the sheer engineering magnificance and show of steel, literally, and all the romance and mysteries attached to it, was the strength it signfied. Something more mental than physical. Like sometimes, I feel I am this big tower which can brave all forces and powers, and I stand tall, unmoved and unfazen by anything.

As a child, I remember sleeping, and then waking up, looking at a small wall frame hung on my wall. On it was a simple prayer called the Serenity Prayer. Its not there any more. But I realize its my favorite prayer, the only prayer that I have enjoyed and probably one that I understood for a change. Initially I thought, oh..what a contradiction.. Serenity versus a Tower. But I feel its the concept of inner serenity that will allow you to believe in yourself and rise above everything else and stand strong as an individual.

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.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right;
If I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him,
Forever in the next.

Reinhold Niebuhr

Winning Life

© Mind Curry 2004 - 2007

Arc De Triomphe, Concorde, Paris

How do you know if you have lived life well?

Would you call your life a success or a failure? Who decides? And how?

Is it going to be based on the number of people who love you? The number of friends you have? Or is it going to be more on the basis of the wealth you accumulate? But then what do you consider as wealth? Friends? Family? Children? Love? Money? Health?

Is it all not so relative? The person I consider as very successful may be a total failure in someone else's view. The person who walks around with a terminal illness may live life so happily and so carefree that others may be so envious of him. The poor man perhaps lives the most peaceful life, while the richest man may still be disappointed about things. God may have given us everything, but we may still complain about how unfair life has been. There are a million others who are disabled and handicapped, while we complain about the shape of our nose and the hair on our arms. Life, can be a never-ending race..

But then..who wins the race? How do you decide the winner? What makes you call life a triumph?

Construction of the Arc De Triomphe (Arch of Triumph) was ordered by Napolean in 1806 (cant imagine such marvellous structures being created so long ago, but its true!) to celebrate his victories. It was completed in 1836, but by that time Napolean was thrown out and powerless.

When I was a child, I used to try and make deals with God. Looking back it sounds funny, kind of like some loyalty-program..

"God, I will do a lot of good things in life and accumulate lot of points. When I have 100 points, you should give me the power to be super-strong... When I do a lot more good and help a lot of people, and I earn 1000 points, I should be able to fly and see all the world.. But if I used all these powers for my own benefit or needs, I would lose points, and then would have to do more good to replenish the points. (I was reasonable even then! :p). And I help all the needy and stop all the crime in this world, and I will finally earn 100,000 points - thats when I should be able to do anything..ANY thing.."

Soon I realized that if I could do any thing, I would be God.. Now thats not possible.. Or is it? Would God like that? Would I last long enough or would I lose all my points immediately doing the stupid things?

Anyway, God didnt subscribe to my loyalty program..not yet - at least not officially, or maybe he has not told me - and probably I havent accumulated enough points yet! But I know that ultimately the only winning I will have in my life are these points. They may not translate into the power to fly or do ANYthing..but these points are the only thing I will carry when I complete this life.

So I guess it makes sense to do good in life.. That will create a winner. Thats the only real victory.. The end of the race.. Triumph!