It has seemed to me that as more young men and women lose touch with religion of any kind, they also lose a sense of meaning in life, and certainly with the concept that they have any inherent value. This makes it very difficult for them to cope with difficult circumstances in their lives. In fact, in a surprising number of cases young adults have never had to confront their inadequacies in any real meaningful way before, and now when they are forced to do so have nothing to offer as evidence that each is more than the sum of his or her accomplishments—or failures. Failure hits them pretty hard. Chaplains spend a substantial amount of time convincing young Sailors and Marines that they have a value apart from their contribution to the mission. This prayer was a way I tried to help during a particular difficult time in one deployment. Maybe it will also help you. This prayer also includes an example of how I would sneak Biblical teaching into my stories, using modern Biblical illiteracy in my favor.
Leave the past behind you.
In the movie “The Mission,” Robert De Niro plays a mercenary named Mendoza who takes asylum in the local church after killing his brother in a fit of jealous rage. When he leaves the church, it is only to join a religious mission to South America. While there in the jungle, as an additional act of penance for all of his life’s evil deeds, Mendoza fills a net with items representing those sins, ties the heavily-laden net to his back, and drags it around wherever he goes. The ropes nearly choke the life out of him.
The truth is, though, that he couldn’t remove his guilt by doing that. It’s a mistake we all make in some measure. We focus on our mistakes and our failings, and we find ourselves looking back and down rather than up and forward.
Pope John XXIII once offered some great advice about this when he wrote “consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”
Instead of letting negative images from the past prey on our minds, we need to shift our thoughts to things that are enlightening, encouraging, and inspiring. Like another wise man said, “Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.”
LET US PRAY
Blessed Lord, it is easy for us to fall into the snare of dwelling upon the thoughts of past failures. Remind us that we cannot change the past, but with You as our guide we can change the future. Help us to adjust our thinking so that we can direct our lives towards productive and positive thinking. Surround us with Your presence this night and always, and comfort us with the reminder that we are loved and that we are valued far beyond our ability to understand. For You are a good God who loves mankind, and to You we give glory honor and worship, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.
AMEN
An Orthodox Priest Abroad 