Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline,be gentle with yourself.

I was a "bright young thing" and it has been tough to overcome. At 19 and 20 I was testifying to Congress, appearing on national news, and being applauded by large crowds.

As a young man I was adept at attracting powerful supporters with my idealism, enthusiasm, and drive. I have never quite developed the prudence, competence, and... well, I'm not sure, expected of an experienced man of forty, then fifty, and now a bit more. I have not gracefully surrendered the things of youth.

The first personal prayer I can recall was at 9 or 10. I asked that my childlike creativity be preserved. I had begun to notice that many older people were burdened and dulled by their experience. Where the young see exciting possibilities, the counsel of years can see - sometimes too well - the effort and sacrifice required.

These are not, I trust, mutually exclusive realities. We know in Rothko, Eliot, Copland and many others a youthful creativity that is strengthened with wise experience.

Dear God, thank you for generously fulfilling my childhood request. I still see with the eyes and mind of a nine-year-old. If it be your will, help me now to combine this perception with mature judgment and real capacity. May my whole person be engaged in fulfilling your intention.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

To be my self, your self, our selves is much more difficult than I understood at fifteen.

It is interesting that Erhmann combines being one's self with loving others. In losing ourselves we may find ourselves. A full encounter with the other enhances the potential for ecstasy: ek (outside) stasis (equilibrium, standing still). At fifteen we are, perhaps, more open to this wisdom than at fifty. As we age there is an inclination to stability. That is a bad goal. Change is inevitable. Growth is good. Stasis is death. Ecstasy is possible.

Love returns - and falls dormant - and returns - and falls dormant - and will return, if we are open to its returning. Even the grass will not return until Spring opens its heart.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

I have chosen or sometimes stumbled into a non-traditional career. For most of my career I have been a so-called free-agent, which in practice means I am utterly dependent on a network of clients and colleagues.

Only twice in all these years have I encountered what I could call "trickery." In one case it involved a financial officer attempting to hide and compensate for his incompetence. In the other, a client consistently failed to follow-through on agreements. In neither case was there malevolent intent. In each case, the individuals were not so much trying to trick me as they were in deep denial regarding their reality.

I have, however, sometimes felt I was being the trickster. My most important role has been to persuade clients and colleagues of their capacity. Both clients and colleagues have been lazy, fearful, hesitant, and blind. It has often seemed as if I needed to "trick" them into believing in their own ideals and taking a heroic path.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

At fifteen I doubt that I understood - or much noticed - the last sentence.

Some serious science now tells us we discount our achievements, especially if we have measured achievement by accumulation. We do this largely because we will usually compare ourselves to someone else who has accumulated more (fame, money, power, prestige, etc., etc...)

The author, Max Erhmann, an Indiana lawyer and businessman, knew this from experience. He was about my present age when he wrote the poem.

Desiderata is Latin for "things desired." Choosing what we desire - or losing our desires - is a crucial and often courageous act.

Am I ready... able... willing... to accept the blessing that God offers? Do I desire that which deepens my relationship with others and with God? Or do I desire that which separates?

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

The Desiderata is less a prayer than an invocation or, even better, a dismissal.

But it is prayerful and I remember it as a prayer. Here I am trying to proceed through my prayers in order of frequency. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the Desiderata adorned my closet door and the rooms of many, even most, of my peers. For us it was especially useful as a silent rebuke to our parent's generation.

We did not often say aloud the words and I cannot recall kneeling in silent recitation. But I can recall studying the words and deploying them in conversation or - more accurately - argument.

I had not thought of the Desiderata or read it for at least thirty years. Yesterday as I googled to find it I expected something saccharin, self-congratulatory, and superficial.

It is not - or need not be - any of these things, but I expect these terms accurately reflect how I last read it. At fifteen I heard the words as self-affirming and critical of others. At more than fifty I am - thank God - a bit more self-critical.

Prayer is derived from the Latin precari meaning to ask or woo. Our English word precarious shares the same derivation and tells us something of the nature of prayer that we may too often neglect.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata (1927)

Gracious and loving God, thank you for your many blessings. Forgive me for what I have neglected. Help me to restore that which I have broken. Draw me closer to you. Open me to your purpose. Help me to accept your intention. Give me the courage and capacity to do what is needed as you would have it done. Amen

This is my private prayer. The specific words have shifted over the years. I will sometimes mention particular blessings and failings.

"Open me" may be repeated over and over as a mantra. The requested opening is to both God and the world. It is to be open to, recognize, and draw meaning and power from the sacramental.

In the last ten year I have added, "as you would have it done." Courage and capacity is not sufficient. Wisdom is also required.