Catholic Mission

 

REFLECTION OF UNIQUENESS

Father, we stand before you tired of peer pressure, conformity, and "playing games." We have become too concerned with the impression we make on others rather than developing the person that you want us to become. You have given each of us special gifts, talents and abilities to be somebody unique and yet, deep down inside, we feel rejection of that unique self. We know that we are lovable in you eyes and that you have a reason for creating us as unique individuals. Help us. Lord, to respect that individuality in ourselves and in each other. You need us to build on your earth. Your world needs real people, not fake people. Each time we are less than what we could be, we not only fail you; we fail each other. Help us to be supportive of one another as each of us dare to be our unique selves.

Lord, tonight I ask you, once and for all, to

rid me of my concern
over what impression I make on other people.

forgive me for being so preoccupied

with what I seem to be,
with the effect I produce
with what others think and say of me.

Forgive me

for wanting to imitate others to the extent
 
that I forget who I am,
for envying their talents so much that I
 
neglect to develop my own.

Forgive me

for the time I spend playing games with my
 
"personality"
and for the time I don’t spend in developing
 
my character.

Now, let me forget about the stranger that I was

so that I may find myself;
for I will never know my home unless I leave it,
and I will never find myself if I refuse to
lose myself.

Lord, let me be open to my brothers and sisters,

so that, through them, you will be able to visit
me as your friend.
For then I will be the person that your love wants me to be,
your child, Father,
and a brother/sister to my brothers and sisters.

I’ve met Jesus Christ by -- Michel Quoist

 
 
 

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