Lived Experience Forum

[Delicatessen]

Hi Everyone @Dimity @TAB 

I won’t be celebrating the new year. Haven’t for a long time.

But wondered whether anyone had any thoughts, dreams or prayers as we move into the count-down….?

Heres a prayer I read every day for my first few years after leaving rehab for alcohol and then onto stabilising for bipolar…

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace:

that where there is hatred, I may bring love;

that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;

that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;

that where there is error, I may bring truth;

that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;

that where there is despair, I may bring hope;

that where there are shadows, I may bring light;

that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather

to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand than be understood;
to love than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.

Amen.

Thinking of you all…

[Dimity]

Pax et bonum @Delicatessen (a Franciscan greeting).

Thanks for posting. I'll reflect on this...I don't celebrate the new year but still feel it's a time for affirmations.

(Btw you inspired me to revisit the canticle of the sun).

@TAB @Appleblossom 

[chibam]

Hi @Delicatessen . 🙂 Interesting idea for a thread.

I still tumble in to the new year with a hope/prayer that this will finally be the year I meet and begin to romance my soulmate.

I expect to be disappointed, yet again, of course. But being the fool I am, I still hope.

[Appleblossom]

Isn't it amazing how HOPE can SPRING ETERNAL @chibam 

Thanks for tag @Dimity 

@Delicatessen Yep I have been inspired by Franciscan spirituality since being a tween and the whole catholic confirmation thing, and have various deeper dives.  Had a a brief theology talk today.  It informs a large part of who I am.  

[greenpea]

love to all those suffering in war torn nations.  may they be victorious.

[wellwellwellnez]

@Delicatessen @greenpea @Appleblossom @chibam @Dimity 

Thanks so much for the new years thread. It's been a year where "new normals" have lead to completely new paradigms.

For the first time in some time, I'm a beautiful stranger to myself, fellow beautiful strangers.

If change is possible, same goes for anything.

[Dimity]

@wellwellwellnez @Delicatessen @Appleblossom et al  that all resonates with me... as of 2022 I'm emerging - confronting myself and my values and taking responsibility. For 2023 i choose to reaffirm and nurture my few connections and pursue purpose and meaning. Reflection, daily activities, anticipation. I'm drawn to spiritual ecology - maybe I'll find ways it translates into community.

Pax et bonum. Hope your wishes come true @chibam @greenpea .

@Appleblossom et al have you heard John Rutter's setting of @Delicatessen 's prayer?

[Appleblossom]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2D7dT_OEGY 

Not heard it before, tho done a bit of Rutter ...

Maybe you can keep me honest for 2023 @Dimity 

[Dimity]

Perhaps that should be mutual @Appleblossom 😀

[Appleblossom]

Deal @Dimity 

I like spiritual ecology ... as in both those concepts and then all wrapped up together.

When back from festival need to get a bit of structure into my life, and yes keep telling myself its alright to have a life.