I frequently start my daychecking the scores on Yahoo and simply shocked at many of the headline stories.. concluding the world is in quite a mess. If you let it
One story.. A billboard God is DEAD.. So sad, so childish, so egocentric, so depressing.. I thought the person who wrote that must be in such spiritual pain , so intellectually warped.. HOW COULD I HELP? I posted to a website; the posting was quite appropriate and topographical to this site.
Some people believe those who pray are weak people, sissies, lack the ability to be responsible.. lack the ability to seize the day and take control. These people believe those who pray are people not dealing with reality. . These people are living in hell they are sadly misguided; It is just the opposite.
What I posted is a prayer. A prayer that I carried with me many years. It was written in the Philippines, at a time of war, by our greatest and most brilliant tactical and strategic fighting General, Douglas Mac ArthurIt is simply beautiful.. A prayer he composed and employed in his morning devotions, the man a highly intellectual developed spiritual soul.. He would often spend many hours in prayer before battle.. When you read it, need I say more:
Build me a Son o Lord who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in Victory.
Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know thee-and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will reach into the future, and yet never forget the past.
And after all these things are his, add I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give himhumility so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom and the meekness of true strength.
Then, I his father, will dare to whisper, I have not lived in vain.
PS: I met this great man in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel where he lived when I was 3 years old. He shook my small hand. I am now 71 with over 40 years of continuous sobriety.
