Will the Real Author Please Stand Up?

Have you ever felt like the world took a vote on your lunch hour and decided to make you the one person who will be on the outside looking in? I have! In my darkest moments I have turned to friends who have helped me to see the brighter side.  I have also found respite in inspirational quotes and poetry such as this one, "God give me the detachment to accept those things I cannot alter; the courage to alter those things I can alter; and the wisdom to distinguish the one thing from the other." Sound familiar? these words were found inscribed on a tablet hanging on an old hotel wall overlooking the Rhine and attributed to 18th century pietist, Freidrich Oetinger (1702- 1782). Soldiers in the German army could see this plaque from their training room where they were taught, "in the principles of management and...behavior of the soldier citizen in a democratic state." It sounds eerily similar to Reinhold Niebuhr's "Serenity Prayer" doesn't it? Futhur investigation catapulted the authorship from Oetinger to
Roman philosopher, Boethius (420-524 AD)!

To the genuine author, we salute you, for these words have not only restored peace in hearts worldwide, they have helped millions to find hope where they didn't feel there was any.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

In loving memory of