A Prayer by Thomas Merton

Since I've essentially been on this theme of 20th century Catholic mystics - I thought I would include this prayer by Thomas Merton which comes from his book - Thoughts in Solitude published in 1956:

"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 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."

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