Bless my dealings with all who surround me
As I approach line three of the Prayer of St. Philaret, “Bless my dealings with all who surround me,” I ponder its implications.
Afterall, I am surrounded by people on all fronts. The inner circle is where I get into trouble. Daily, frequent exposure means there are numerous opportunities to irritate friends and family with the things I say and do and vice versa. In asking God to bless my dealings with those who surround me, I’m really asking Him to make me a more agreeable person, more peaceful, more understanding, a better listener, humbler. This can be difficult some days. Before my first sip of coffee there’s tension. Just yesterday, my teen child said that I was “a subpar teacher.” And, last week, I overcooked the chicken and was lectured by a 21-year-old about how to eat healthier. Then at church someone scolded me about my child sneezing in the nave and another person wanted to rehash some old gripes with a parishioner. It is difficult.
Lord, “bless my dealings with all who surround me.”
Am I willing to embrace the impact of this prayer?
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica says, “If our thoughts are kind, peaceful, and quiet, turned only towards good, then we also influence ourselves and radiate peace all around us – in our family, in the whole country, everywhere.” 1 Am I willing to be influenced by Peacefulness to such a point that it radiates from me to others, without expecting it to be the other way around? That act requires a surrender to self which seems to be at the root of this struggle.
When I ask the Lord to “bless my dealings,” I’m offering myself as a mercy of peace, willing to be transformed so that I might transform others. “Oh Lord, will you make all my interactions with others fruitful, edifying, gentle?”
St. Seraphim of Sarov echoes this sentiment when he says, "Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved."
There are a lot of people out there encompassing me and it’s not easy to walk in peace and selflessness. It is a daily struggle just to stay calm and loving in the midst of dozens with all their needs and idiosyncrasies as I’m sure it’s hard for them to love me. The most challenging of all is when close family members dismiss me, are crabby, or just plain mean. They don’t mean to be this way…they’re fighting their own demons. Yet, the challenge of returning that ill-temper with peace and love is real. That’s why I’ve discovered that line # 3 is a most excellent daily prayer.
Lord, “bless my dealings with all who surround me.”
There’s absolutely no way to bless my own dealings with others; it’s just too difficult and my emotions get the better of me. I need God in my life every day helping me, supporting me to make that happen.