Growing Older

From my brain

This was sourced from WiredJesus.com A friend posted it on our guild forums, and I wanted to capture the full text here for posterity...

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I was doing my morning meditations and came across this in one of my prayer books. While it has made the rounds on the net, its origin is with a Mother Superior of a German convent in the 17th Century. Its has been adapted to an old timer’s prayer and other variations but this is the original, to the best of my knowledge. Not just for old timers but even for us GenXers who are starting to see a little gray in the hair and discovering that our parents weren't quite as stupid as we thought. Our elders may not understand the postmodern world but after visiting one of our 96 year old members yesterday (one very cool lady), they understand more than I sometimes give them credit for. The human condition is universal, postmodern or otherwise.

Lord thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older 
    and some day I will be old.
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject 
    and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybodys affairs; 
Keep my mind free from recital of endless details; 
    give me wings to get to the point.

I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others’ pains. 
But seal my lips on my aches and pains.
They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter 
    as the years go by.
I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy listening to the tales of others’ pains,
    but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, 
    but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness 
    when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint 
    - some of them are so hard to live with - 
    but a sour person is one of crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places 
    and talents in unexpected people, 
    and give me O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

Make me thoughtful, but not moody, helpful, but not bossy. 
    With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all; 
    but thou knowest, Lord that I want a few friends at the end. 

Amen.