In his book Thoughts in solitude, Thomas Merton (late Trappist monk, Catholic priest, poet, and social activist) explores the meaning of interior solitude and its role in bringing every life to joyous fruition. “What is said here about solitude is not just a recipe for hermits,” he writes in the preface, “it has a bearing on the whole future of [us all].” In the following prayer, Merton expresses faith in that which is unknown. He also speaks to the fear of being abondoned by God which Rabbi Kushner referred to in yesterday’s post.
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 that 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 will I 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.
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