“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
~St. Francis of Assisi~
In the first few weeks of a brand new year, many people have made New Year’s resolutions and are working hard to stick to them. Most New Year’s resolutions have a goal – usually the improvement of something or someone. This prayer from Saint Francis of Assisi is the ultimate New Year’s resolution. It aims to improve ourselves, others, and the world, in line with God’s ultimate plan of redemption and restoration. While it may seem ambitious, these statements are something to aspire to and something that we can always be working towards – no matter what time of year it is.
One volunteer recently commented, “I love that every shift, morning and afternoon, starts with prayer at PACN. It really helps refocus me from whatever is going on in my life to the reason I am at PACN and how I hope to serve clients.” At PACN, we strive to be instruments of peace, sowing love, faith, hope and joy in the clients we are blessed to encounter. We pray the same is true for you in the New Year. Happy 2014!!