Scrolls for Success – Scroll Ten

Scroll Nine

Scroll Ten

Who is of so little faith that in a moment of great disaster, or heartbreak, or misery beyond his comprehension has not called to his god?

My life need not be filled with religion in order to recognize this greatest mystery of nature. All creatures that walk the earth, possess the instinct to cry for help. Are not our out-cries a form of prayer? Is it not incomprehensible in a world governed by nature’s laws to give a lamb, or a mule, or a bird, or a man the instinct to cry out for help; lest some great mind is also provided the cry should be heard by some superior power having the ability to answer our cry?

Henceforth, I will pray. But my cries for help will only be cries for guidance. Never will I pray for the material things of the world. I am not calling to a servant to bring me food. Never will I seek delivery of gold, love, good health, petty victories, fame, success, or happiness. Only for guidance will I pray that I may be shown the way to acquire these things, and my prayer will always be answered.

The guidance I seek may come, or the guidance I seek may not come. But are not both of these an answer? If a child seeks bread from his father, and it is not forthcoming, has not the father answered? I will pray for guidance, and I will pray in this manner:

“Oh, creator of all things help me. For this day I go out into the world naked and alone, and without your hand to guide me, I will wander far from the path which leads to success and happiness.

You have taught the Lion and the Eagle how to hunt and prosper with teeth and claw. Teach me how to hunt with words and prosper with love, so that I may be a Lion among men and an eagle in the market place. Help me to remain humble through obstacles and failures, yet hide not from mine eyes the prize that will come with victory.

Assign me tasks to which others have failed. Yet guide me to pluck the seeds of success from their failures. Confront me with fears that will temper my spirit. Yet endow me with courage to laugh at my misgivings. Spare me sufficient days to reach my goals, yet help me to live this day as though it be my last. Guide me in my words so that they may bare food, yet silence me from gossip that none be maligned. Discipline me in the habit of trying and trying again. Yet show me the way to make use of the law of averages. Favor me with alertness to recognize opportunity, yet endow me with patience to concentrate my strength. Bathe me in good habits that the bad ones may drown, yet grand me compassion for weaknesses in others. Suffer me to know that all things shall pass, yet help me to count my blessings of today. Expose me to hate, so it not be a stranger, yet fill my cup with love to turn strangers into friends.

But all these things be only if thy will. I am a small and a lonely grape, clutching the vine. Yet thou hast made me different from all others. Readily there must be a special place for me.

Guide me. Help me. Show me the way. Let me become all you planned for me, when my seed was planted and selected by you to sprout in the vineyard of the world. Help this humble person. Guide me, God.”