This prayer from the deeply spiritual Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, has been a favorite for eons – at least 20+ years since taking a class at Georgetown in DC & reading as many of his books as possible! (like i got up at 5:00AM to read them before work to keep up with the evening class reading list + peer pressure from my good buddy, Carol, who was also a major Merton groupie & added MORE to our ‘must read & discuss’ list!) Thought it relevant today as we wind down the Lent road to Easter…
“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.”
Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude
grace, peace & ‘on-the-road’ prayers
Virginia : )
Roses in the Rubble 
Beautiful prayer!
Thanks Tammy(!)
Behind the curve, I stopped looking.
Oh, where is she? How then do I find her?
In the back of my mind the memory recedes, and yet,
a certain sentimental feeling is retained —
front and center, quaint and tender.
Cherishing the moments
whilst I stirred the mixed emotions,
I allowed my soul to stew in his own pot,
and as it simmered the scent flew and permeated the air
— of another world — another place —
and another chance was cooked up, by God!
I can only imagine it was done in good taste.
There will come a time when I’ll find out.
There will! There will! And soon! I can smell it!
Furthermore,
I sorely hope that when it happens,
it won’t burn my tongue, nor scorch my soul.
*
“On A Somewhere Road” by Uncle Tree
Uncle Tree – your poetry does touch the soul! Thank you for these beautiful words. We are all in the state of becoming – a process that doesn’t let up until we reach the end of our time when our souls are truly scorched with the love of our Heavenly Creator, burning off all the old earthly stuff so that we may become All New in a place where moths & rust cannot destroy & the evil one can’t steal our joy. Amen!
Uncle Trees’s poem was a wonderful meditation this morning. I agree with your comments, too, Virginia. We need to slow down and savor each passing moment–we need to take time to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead!
Thank you Cindy! … must slow down a bit… : )
Beautiful Virginia. Thank you so much for these daily Lenten reflections – always an inspiration.
Thank you SO MUCH Lisa for the Inspiring Light that overflows from your life, your faith, your writing, your teaching, your MUSIC, your leadership, your humble heart of reconciliation – hope – peace & LOVE (!)
Lots of love (hugs inclusive) to you (& David!)
Yes, and that good buddie is STILL a huge fan of Merton. I was just reading this prayer to someone else on Saturday. It sits on my refrigerator. And….we shared a week of SILENCE at his monastery in Kentucky. I know….no one believes that you and I could keep silent for a week but we did.
CAROL! i am going through a Merton Lenten guide this year (very good, will have to send you the details!) yes, i am still a groupie, too! i toted this prayer on a card all around the world (it’s a little tattered!) … & still can’t believe you & Marge & i were SILENT for a week at Gethsemane in Kentucky (more on that soon! : )
miss you & hope all is well(!) — VIRGINIA : )