How To Change The World

Anthony De Mello writes of a man he’d met who reflected on his days – he entitles it

CHANGE THE WORLD BY CHANGING ME

“I was a revolutionary when I
was young and all my prayer to God was
‘Lord, give 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 an old man and my days
are numbered, my one prayer
is, ‘Lord, give me the grace to change
myself.’ If I had prayed for this right
from the start I should not have wasted
my life.”