This weekend, my priest reminded me of the Morning Prayer of the Optima Elders*:

O Lord, grant me strength to meet with serenity everything forthcoming today. Grant me to submit completely to Thy holy will. At every hour of this day guide and support me in all things. Whatsoever news may reach me in the course of this day, teach me to accept it with calmness and the conviction that all is subject to Thy holy will.
In all my words and actions direct my thoughts and feelings. In all unexpected occurances, do not let me forget that all is sent down by Thee. Teach me to deal straightforwardly and wisely with every member of my family, neither embarassing nor saddening anyone.
O Lord, grant me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events that take place during it. Direct my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive and to love. Amen.

This prayer, which I love and have written about before, had fallen by the wayside in my moring prayers, and Father’s reminder was a welcome one. I've dusted it off and have been remembering to pray it in the morning. I think that it is particuarly applicable during these difficult times. It is on the sidebar of Mary Poppins NOT's blog, and I greatly appreciate it.

On a completely unrelated note, the other day, while Googling the lyrics of my favorite Dire Straits’ song, Romeo and Juliet , I discovered that it had been remade by the Killers, a band I greatly enjoy. I hope you find it as delightful as I do.



* In the comments of my previous post, I’d made this observation: I’ve always heard it as the Prayer of the Optima Elders, but my little pocket prayer book calls it a prayer of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow , and MPN’s citation is St. John of Kronstadt. I don’t actually know who wrote it, neither is that important. I can tell you, my priest attributed it to the Optima Elders.