Pilgrammage...Place...and Merton

A friend recently shared this prayer by Thomas Merton along with a lectio experience of Psalm 84:1-8. It was a powerful evening of listening and reflecting on my journey to a place...a place I cannot really describe... or of which I know the exact location. My interest has been piqued by this brief introduction to Merton who speaks a great deal about the idea of pilgrimmage, journey, and Celtic Christian monasticism.


Here's the prayer:

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 I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that my desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that 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 (1915-1968)