Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Blind Faith

At a meeting recently, the chairperson shared this prayer. Several people were familiar with it and what was funny was that every one of those people thought someone they knew in recovery made it up.

It is, nonetheless, a good prayer because it so perfectly captures the fumbling in the dark feeling that we all feel from time to time in recovery. I offer it here as a gift, in the hope that it might give you comfort the next time you feel a little lost:

Dear God,

I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself. And the fact that I think I am following your will noes not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe this: I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you. I hope I have that desire in everything I do. I hope I never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it at the time.

Therefore I will trust you always for though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not be afraid because I know you will never leave me to face my troubles alone.

Amen

13 comments:

  1. This is SUCH an encouraging blog...THANK YOU
    Shawna

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  2. Kathy, I cannot tell you how much I needed this. And that is certainly my prayer. Today, has been what I call an "evil" day at work. A chain reaction of everyone experiencing satan's attack, down to me and how he is using each one of us against one another. Of all the years I have worked at this place, this is the first time I have seen such a powerful evil force at work.

    So, especially that last paragraph to the prayer is potent.

    Blessings.

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  3. That's beautiful. Thanks :)

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  4. Thank you it touched me and I can totally relate.

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  5. That's a great prayer. I've never heard it before... maybe it was made up by someone in your group... who knows. I've made up several things that I've heard others repeat months later. It's always good if we can pass something of use on to others.

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  6. Love it, Blind Faith is what got me through the doors of AA, I had Faith that God was leading me. In times of despair and weakess this has been my mantra, God provided me the willingness to continue each day.

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  7. The poem is called "The Road Ahead" and was written by Thomas Merton, a Catholic monk.

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  8. Hi I pray that your treatment and recovery goes well. Please check out my blog. medschooldream.blogspot.com

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  9. Thanks for sharing this poem. I especially connected to this part right now...

    Therefore I will trust you always for though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not be afraid because I know you will never leave me to face my troubles alone.

    Blessings,
    Tammy

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  10. Yes, I don't know if it is a poem or prose, but I think it was written by Thomas Merton, a 20th Century Cistercian Trappist monk.

    I think it is from his book 'Thoughts in Solitude'

    It has been a great comfort to me! Knowing I am not alone in these thoughts, that someone like Thomas Merton has the same experience, and the gift to articulate it.

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  11. Kathy, came back by to read this. I needed to!

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  12. The fumbling in the dark feeling has been reduced to groping for the light. I like that much better.

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