READ THIS: The Way of Serenity Finding Peace and Happiness in the Serenity Prayer By Father Jonathan Morris Our Coverage Sponsored by Stribling and Associates
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For Catholics and non-Catholics, The Way of Serenity is an absolutely essential read for anyone in Manhattan, land of the busy, the crazy, the stressed and the overworked, and even though we do excel and prosper here, it can be exhausting and take its toll on everyone. At Whom You Know, we constantly seek ways to improve your life and author Father Jonathan Morris makes some superb well-written points about life for all that are desperately seeking serenity, and we believe that group extends beyond our Manhattan island. It's time to stop running around like a hamster (p. 174)! You do not need to be Catholic to love this book or go to church every week. (But we think our family and Boston College would be proud of this review...and BC, we hope Amy Poehler is next in this column!) This book might be the best spiritual/religious book Peachy Deegan has read since her BC Perspectives class.
'THE WAY OF SERENITY', By Father Jonathan Morris is a book that compels you to read further on, each and every page and chapter. The basis of this book is the Serenity Prayer:
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
He's right: its simplicity is compelling.
And though what it means is for everyone, each person can evaluate which parts of this they are better at. It shouldn't surprise anyone that Peachy usually has the courage and the wisdom down, but the serenity part is mostly missing. So, this book was especially helpful.
Father Jonathan Morris is a priest that captures your attention with his human content, stellar word choice and overall straightforward nature. His clarity is remarkable. We believe he's not the kind of priest that will put you to the pillow thirty seconds into a homily-though we will say in the interest of full disclosure we don't know him, haven't heard him speak and have only read his amazing book. He quotes the Rolling Stones: "You Can't Always Get What You Want...".(p. 46) Father Jonathan Morris tells relatable stories that are highly effective in getting his point across.
We like how this is not all about prayer: it's about action. Chapter 3 is titled: Work as if Everything Depends on You, and Pray as if Everything Depends on God. We think God helps those that help themselves. A lovely grasshopper story accompanies this. We do not agree with everything he says however; it is clear we do get quite excited about food and clothing! (p. 128)
This account of thought-provoking questions lead us to search for the answers as we delve into our souls. Father Jonathan Morris at times gives encounters in his everyday life and those of others relating to the profound questions: “Why are we here?” “Why do we exist?” “How should we live?”
Along with these testimonies come true, heart-felt stories of sincere conversions of every-day people. The chapters may start out with Biblical encounters however they correlate with events of modern day life. This really holds one's interest to read on through each and every chapter while pondering your own existence of "why" and "how" we should live for ultimate, true happiness. An easy-to-read account that takes you through the feelings and attitudes of: gratitude, contrition (repentance) and mission in this life and the next.
To those of you not Catholic, we have a panoply of stars, as do most religions and groups. One of our stars is St. Francis of Assisi: St. Francis gave us the Serenity Prayer. Dissected in a marvelous little book by Father Jonathan Morris, St. Francis' direct approach to a life philosophy is easy to follow, easy to comprehend, and easy to memorize. Reading Father Morris' book brings to bear many salient points using the Serenity Prayer as a guideline, and as a series of stepping stones to a healthier, wealthier way of thinking. Perhaps that's why it's a given in any 12 step program. This little prayer, or poem, or incantation, as you choose to call it, can give you a moment to pause and reflect about yourself and the world around you in a very basic way. Father Morris is well-known in some parts, and as a young, hip priest of the Catholic Church, he talks like the parish priest that he is. In a one-on-one fashion, The Way of Serenity walks you through an approach to using the Serenity Prayer as a stepping stone. We all need stepping stones, and this little book is a good one. No pressure, just peace of mind.
Reading this book is like going on a mental vacation! And we love that Father Morris concurs that golf is a spiritual experience and would not mind God eliminating mosquitoes.
The Way of Serenity by Father Jonathan Morris is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
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The Serenity Prayer begins:
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference . . .
In his new book, The Way of Serenity (HarperOne; September 2014; Hardcover), media commentator and bestselling author Father Jonathan Morris explores the power of the Serenity Prayer, a prayer that transcends the boundaries of religious experience like no other. Simple yet universal, it strikes a chord with believers and non-believers alike and touches something intimately related to our common humanity.
Well known as the cornerstone of recovery and treatment programs, the Serenity Prayer helps transform the lives of people who feel helpless, overwhelmed, trapped by circumstances. The Way of Serenity is illustrated throughout by stories of people who have learned, or are in the process of learning, how to find greater serenity in life. Moving narratives, personal stories, illuminating historical anecdotes, and pertinent biblical passages demonstrate how the Serenity Prayer leads to greater peace and happiness.
Focusing on the key concepts of acceptance, courage and wisdom, Father Morris considers the prayer phrase by phrase:
· What does it mean to accept with serenity the things we cannot change?
· How can we go about accepting unchangeable realities?
· Where do we find the courage to change the things that are changeable?
· What is required in order to know what should and should not be changed?
· How do we learn wisdom, and know how to be wise?
In The Way of Serenity, Father Morris reveals the hope that can be found by gaining a deeper spiritual understanding of the Serenity Prayer’s words and practicing its message, and reminds us of an important truth: that God wants us to be serene, to feel reassured and protected by His love, but to also use the gifts he has given us – courage and wisdom – in our everyday lives.
About the Author:
Father Jonathan Morris is a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of New York and serves as program director of The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM. He is also an analyst for the Fox News Channel and serves in campus ministry at Columbia University. His books include The Promise: God’s Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts and God Wants You Happy. Visit the author at www.fatherjonathan.com.
THE WAY OF SERENITY by Father Jonathan Morris
HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
Hardcover │ ISBN: 9780062119131
Also available as an ebook.
