Prayer: Anthony De Mello, S.J.

I was a revolutionary when I was young and all my prayer to God was, ‘Lord, give me the energy to change the world.’ As I approached middle age and realized that half my life was gone without my changing a single soul, I changed my prayer to, ‘Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come in contact with me. Just my family and friends, and I shall be satisfied.’ Now that I am old and my days are numbered, my one prayer is, “God, give me the grace to change myself.’ If I had prayed this right from the start, I should not have wasted my life.