The Prayer of Saint Francis

While some of us yearn for a "Raison d'être", or a reason for living, others yearn for a reason to go to work, other than for the purpose of making money.

This was a subject I recently discussed with a priest.  I told him that after 15 years of working as a respiratory therapist I am convinced that most of what I do is a waste of time or delays time.

I told him that this has caused me to become very apathetic toward my work, resulting in me frequently becoming angry, sometimes mumbling obscenities under my breath, and occasionally vocalizing my anger.  

"What you need to do," he said, "is read 'The Prayer of Saint Francis' every day before you go to work.  Then you will see your purpose."

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much 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 to self that we are born to eternal life