Archive for February 13th, 2006

Thomas Merton’s Prayer

A friend wrote the following in a note to me recently. It is a prayer by a Trappist Monk named Thomas Merton. I'd heard of him before, but this is the first of his writings I've ever knowingly seen. It's good … and I'm going to have quite an experience unpacking its profundity over the next year.

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

2006
02/13
CATEGORY
sierra leone
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Blessed

This past weekend was one for the annals of your friend here. I was utterly humbled on Friday evening when about fifty people gathered to pray for me. Several people drove in from out of town, including a professor and good friend from college, my parents, a friend from my church back home, and my old roommate Pete who now lives in Arizona. We began and ended the evening with good food and conversation. The middle was wonderful filling of moving prayer. I am not eloquent enough to describe my gratitude and other emotions for the special night. I can only offer a simple "thank you." You have made me feel very loved. Thank you.

The fun continued into Saturday when we got together with my Mom's side of our family for lunch. It was a great time to catch up and see some faces that I hadn't in a long, long time.

Here are some pictures of the events (click on the picture to get into the album). If you were at one of these events and have other pictures, please email them to me.

The Fam

Saturday evening ended in some country line dancing. Let's just say that it's a good thing that I didn't get hurt. And sorry, there are no pictures. Please use your imagination.

2006
02/13
CATEGORY
sierra leone
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