Light The Cauldron

When it comes to transitions, things can get pretty stressful. Transition to a new job, transition to a marriage or family, or transition to a new place makes people nervous, worried, and fearful. But if there's a constant presence around, that can make a transition a lot easier.

When I went up to spend high school in Saginaw, Michigan, it was a huge transition for me. It's not terribly common for a high school student to board, and unlike my other siblings, I was probably not as prepared mentally for it as they were.

I made friends pretty quickly and got involved in extracurriculars, but there was still moments of homesickness, stress, nerves, worries, and fears. But I had a secret weapon; a solution to the problems that come with transition:

My older brother, Matt.

I was a freshman when he was a senior, and when it came to being a senior, he was a Senior. He did everything: football, choir, show choir, theater, and just plain hanging out with a tight group of friends. It was…

I have a prayer cube that was given to me by a student a few years ago. I routinely give it to one of my students at the end of our day. She or he rolls it and reads whichever prayer faces up.
One of those prayers happens to be the Serenity Prayer, commonly known as the prayer used by the group Alcoholics Anonymous. It ended up being the prayer my classroom used yesterday, November 9, and while I’ve heard it prayed quite a few times over the past few years, it really struck me that day.
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.
It is commonly attributed to a German American named Reinhold Niebhur and showed up in publications in the 1930s before being adopted by A.A. Longer versions of it are available, but the one that is on posters and commemorative stones and yes, even prayer cubes is the shorter version.
I think it is a good prayer to think about right now. Let’s break it down.
God,
…