Anxiety
A friend recently
posted about anxiety. I do not treat this issue lightly. Anxiety raises its
head for all of us from time to time, for some it is almost all consuming. I
thought the article below would be of some help. It ends with St. Francis’ Peace
Prayer; reading it slowly and consciously, for me, brings immediate relief.
As a young man I
also enjoyed “Desiderata” which at one time I had memorized.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and
haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on
good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen
to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are
vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may
become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser
persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well
as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however
humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for
the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue
there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the
face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the
years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in
sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the
universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no
doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in
the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.
© Max Ehrmann 1927
But, I find, that
the greatest aid in addressing anxiety is turning to your faith and putting
yourself in God’s hands. I’m not saying don’t do anything addressing those
issues you are concerned with, after all, God helps those who help themselves.
There is also the
great Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is not as popular today
as it was, but it is always there for us.
A Prayer to the Sacred Heart
(In Difficulties)
Almighty arms of Jesus before
you I come with all my faith
Begging you for comfort in my
difficult situation.
Do not forsake me, Good Jesus.
Open your doors in my way
That your almighty arms will
open and close as you design,
To give me that tranquility
that I so desire.
(Make your petitions)
Oh my God, receiving that
supplication from a wounded heart
that is always fighting for
life, With your divine power,
Never let me scramble for want
of help
Almighty Jesus, assist me to
find shelter in thy
Celestial Country ever.
Amen
Finally, here is an article I
found that may be of help.
How to overcome
anxiety
Learn the spiritual path to peace
Have you ever been
in a storm? This summer there were many terrible thunderstorms. My brother and
nephew got trapped in one while they were running. On his return, I asked my
brother if he was worried. He said, “Well, I sure wanted to settle all of my
debts.” My nephew said, “It was the run of my life – or better said, I was
running for my life. It was like playing a video game and having no more
lives.” Well, to say the least, they were dealing with anxiety.
Anxiety has many causes. Some anxiety is rooted in our
fears. These fears can be deep in the soul and may be hard to get a handle on.
Trauma in our lives from abuse, or situations that reinforce inner fears, can
become deeply rooted and can stay with us all our lives.
Some anxiety is related to a person’s chemistry. Sometimes a
person is born with this kind of psychological cross. I have known many persons
who have bravely carried this cross in their lives and in spite of the anxiety they
may feel, continue to make good choices and do the things that they believe God
calls them to in life.
Anxiety is an unpleasant feeling. There is a sense that
something is wrong – as if there is a sword dangling from a thread directly
over our heads. Anxiety is agitation of the soul. It may be temporary like my
brother and nephew in the storm. It may be a daily or long-term struggle. Like
a still pool that is disturbed by a rock that plunges through its surface, our
soul’s peace can be disturbed through fearful, distressing thoughts or
experiences. Sometimes when we are anxious, we can think that a good Christian
will never feel this way. That can compound the problem, because now we are
feeling anxious for being anxious! Who can save us from this spiral fall? Our
Lord Jesus!
First of all, it is a mistake to think a Christian will not
feel anxious. Jesus’ final days were marked with distressing situations and His
soul was full of sorrow and distress. Jesus sweated blood in the garden of
Gethsemani, a name which means the place of the olive press. The olive branch
and the olive are symbols of peace. It was an olive branch held by a dove that
was given to Noah after the terrible storm that flooded the world. The storm
was over. Peace would now rest on Noah and his family. In the same way, Jesus
went through a terrible storm of anxiety and distress in the garden as He
foresaw His imminent suffering and felt the weight of this world’s sin press
down on Him. His drops of sweat became like blood. Doctors tell us that this
can happen when someone is undergoing very deep emotional distress. The blood
can burst through the capillaries and mingle with the sweat because of high
emotional tension and pressure. But our Lord went through it all so that we
might experience a peace that comes from God.
How does this peace come to us? How could a person possibly
experience peace in the middle of great anxiety? Our Lord knew anxiety beyond
what most of us ever will know. He showed us what to do when we are having
anxious moments, whether they be small or great. We are to pray. We are to
surrender to God and the cross. Jesus prayed a number of times in the garden,
“Father, let this cup pass me by, but not as I will, but as you will.” The
Father sent an angel to help Him. Jesus, after He prayed, accepted His Father’s
will. God’s peace flowed from within Him. When Peter cut off the ear of the
High Priest’s slave, who came to arrest Jesus, Jesus said, “Put your sword back
into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” (Jn
18:10) He healed the man. He accepted the cup of suffering in peace.
God’s peace can come to us even as we go through distressing
situations. As we grow in our union with God, the anxiety and distress of the
inner soul gives way to a deep and profound peace that no one can take away.
Our risen Lord’s first words to the Apostles in John’s Gospel were “Peace be
with you!” (Jn 20:19) Peace is our risen Lord’s gift to us when we go through
trials of faith and trust. He is there to calm the storm, to instill faith and
free us from fear.
---Fr. Bill Ashbaugh
The first step to
peace: surrender yourself to God.
For our Spiritual Fitness this month, we will practice
surrendering ourselves to God. The fruit of this exercise will be the gift of
peace from Jesus that overcomes our anxiety.
1. Reflect on the question: “Who is
really in charge of my life?” Let God be in charge. Pray “I surrender to you my
Lord and my God.” A good celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation will restore
the soul’s peace.
2. Read and pray: about what Jesus said
to Martha who was anxious. (Luke 10:41-42) “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and
upset about many things. Only one thing is required.” I know many people who
get upset when they hear this Gospel passage. They say, “Jesus, we need people
who work and are active, too.” But the Lord was trying to help Martha overcome
her anxiety and driving need to “do.” He wanted her to experience the peace
that comes from “being” with Him.
3. Be aware of anxious feelings: Write
down when they occurred and consider why you were feeling anxious. Read and
pray over Matthew 6:25-34, or Matthew 8:23-27.
4. Go for a
walk and look about you: “Be still and know that I am God!” (Ps 46:10)
5. Do not allow your fears or anxieties to stop
you from doing what is right and good. If you are seriously tempted to
avoid doing a good thing out of anxiety or fear, pray for the courage to do it,
and then do it! God’s peace will rest on you.
6. Prayerfully read: Psalms 34, and 131
7. Don’t worry about doing all of the above:
Just pick one and do it well!
Lord, make me an
instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow your love.
Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith in you. O Divine
Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled as to console, to be
understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that
we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we
rise to everlasting life.
– Prayer attributed to St Francis of Assisi
Finally, John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as
the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it
be fearful.”
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