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Friday, April 13, 2007

Desire in Merton's Prayer

Last night we ended our monthly reflection group with a prayer composed by Thomas Merton that I have always loved. The word "desire" lept out at me so it seems good to use it today in my blog. I also want to say that I will be going away for a three-day retreat so may miss blogging until next Tuesday but will keep on desiring that all of my readers are filled with desire for the Lord.

"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 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." (From Thoughts in Solitude)

I believe that the desire to please God does please Him and that is consoling.
He asks us to desire Him, to trust Him, and to love Him in all that we do.

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