FOR THE
PERSONAL PATH
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) is widely recognized as one of the
very greatest spiritual figures of the 20th century. He was a Trappist monk
and hermit of the Abbey at Gethsemani, Kentucky, and a prolific writer (how
he is best remembered today). But he broke the stereotypical mould in many
ways. For all of the Trappists' cloistered and contemplative tradition
(including not a little resignation to worldly pessimism),
Merton was also a very public, vocal, and optimistic visionary. During the
1950's and 1960's, he was a civil rights activist and a leading personality
in the "Peace Movement" focusing on the threat of nuclear war. The last
years of his life were marked by his groundbreaking work developing
inter-faith ties with Eastern (primarily Buddhist) monasticism. His many
books cover the range of his experiences, from contemplative spirituality,
through topical essays, to social activism. His best-known work is certainly
his autobiography The Seven Story Mountain, which has been called the
greatest spiritual testament since the Confessions of St. Augustine.
Although Merton's public popularity (both during his life and after) tended
to oversimplify him, he was a very complex—many say even
"contradictory"—man.
I first encountered Merton when I was in college, and ever since then he has
remained one of my two or three favorite writers and exemplars in the
spiritual life. I identify with his complexity/contradictions! I also revere
the simple and yet mighty straightforwardness of his faith and personal
devotion—even the evident struggles. Here is a prayer that Merton wrote, one
which I use every morning:
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
Had I
the gift, I could have written this prayer myself, because the "I" in these
words is, in fact, me. I share this prayer with you so that you might know
something about me that I don't know how to tell you myself. I also offer it
in the hope that it may help you in your own prayers and in your ongoing
journey of spiritual self-discovery in relationship to God through Jesus
Christ.
Faithfully,
Shannon +
