The Welcoming Prayer

A contemplative friend shared this prayer recently as an example of how to practice ‘holy indifference’, to not be invested in each day of life having to have a particular outcome, but rather being accepting and open to whatever God chooses to bring each day. It speaks to a posture of radical openness, readiness to set ego aside and any conflicting motivations that might interfere with the Spirit’s movement.
It’s a powerful prayer of surrender and trust.

The Welcoming Prayer (by Father Thomas Keating)

Welcome, welcome, welcome.
I welcome everything that comes to me today
because I know it's for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons,
situations, and conditions.
I let go of my desire for power and control.
I let go of my desire for affection, esteem,
approval and pleasure.
I let go of my desire for survival and security.
I let go of my desire to change any situation,
condition, person or myself.
I open to the love and presence of God and
God's action within.
Amen.

Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation