Thomas Merton
A good friend and mentor once said to me, "A Christian wakes up every morning and listens for the leadership of the Holy Spirit to gain an understanding of that day's work." I completey agree, but have found it difficult to live into that reality from day to day.
Each week my hope is to encourage you to live your life with just a bit more intention and purpose, to gain an understanding of who you are and what you are called to do each day. The world needs each of us to do so. But, if we hold on too tightly to the belief that we alone are responsible for living this calling the task becomes overwhelming and, I believe, can't be done. We must live with open hands, trusting that The Lord sees us and is guiding our steps.
I invite you to start your day with this amazing prayer by Thomas Merton, written from the position of an intentional, but surrendered life.
The Merton 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 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.
-Amen