Dear Friends
Well, if we are thinking of our final home in
heaven, I don’t want to be home for Christmas anytime soon. On this day, December 10th, in 1968, Thomas Merton, monk, poet and spiritual
writer, was accidentally electrocuted while attending a conference in Bangkok,
Thailand. He went home suddenly and without warning two weeks before Christmas.
On vacation several years ago,
I told, actually I practically shouted to Kathleen, “TURN RIGHT!” as we
suddenly and unexpectedly came upon a sign pointing to the Trappist monastery
of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky. I knew that this was where Merton
lived and worked for over two decades of his life. It was a wonderful,
unplanned visit.
Two Merton quotes which I think might speak to many
people right now are these:
“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.”
“You
do not need to know precisely what is happening, or where it is all going. What
you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the
present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
May these words not just help us cope, but encourage
us to go forward, day by day, one step at a time, with confidence. May they
carry us through many more Christmas days until we are finally home for our final
Easter.
John
No comments:
Post a Comment