A Year With Thomas Merton - July 28

Entering the School of My Life

During the night office and morning meditation, seeing that my whole life is a struggle to seek the truth (at least, I want it to be so) and that the truth is found in the reality of my own life as it is given to me, and that it is found by complete consent and acceptance. Not at all by defeat, by mere passive resignation, by mere inert acceptance of evil and falsity (which are nevertheless unavoidable), but by “creative” consent, in my deepest self, to the will of God, which is expressed in my own self and my own life. And indeed there is a sense in which my own deepest self is in God and even expresses Him, as “word.” Such is the deep meaning of our Sonship.

Gradually I will come more and more to transcend the limitations of the world and of the society to which I belong—while fully accepting my own little moment in history, such as it is.

To be detached from all systems, and without rancor towards them, but with insight and compassion. To be truly “catholic” is to be able to enter into everybody’s problems and joys and be all things to all men.

July 31, 1961, IV.146

An Abundance of Words

Dear A Peur,



Today we learned about seeking and claiming that one WORD that speaks our personal call to reveal God. So many words are out there in cyberspace and especially in the blogosphere. What's your WORD? Can you turn from your fear and, at least for a time, adopt as your WORD: Abundance?



What about that story in the fourth chapter of John's Gospel? What does Jesus' statement that the water He gives will "become in you a spring of water welling up to eternal life?" Such is the word "lerewayah," which, according to Robert Alter, means "abundant drink" or "satiety."



This is what I desire for you: that you seek and come to know the spring of water welling up to eternal life that is the revelation of our mysterious God: Jesus Christ. Go to the well. Fear not. There is enough for everyone, you included. When you have learned that and drawn the water that is uniquely yours you will be able to, in turn, call others to their own welling up to the abundance that has been there all along.