A Seven Day Journey with Thomas Merton

Today, again, I asked myself during centering prayer, to let my heart be open to God. This is the Christocentric God of the Trinity about which I speak. The book, "A Seven Day Journey with Thomas Merton" by Esther de Waal is an excellent exercise for home retreat that helps one come to opening the heart to God. The book does so in words, and it has photographs by Thomas Merton. Irregardless, through the words or by looking at the photographs, one can find a way of looking at the world in the everyday and finding God. Set out as a seven day journey, take the book kindly and give it attention during the day, setting aside the time to go into the retreat. In the notes on Thomas Merton, the writer says, "The message of love, the primacy of love, this is the most basic definition of monastic life as Merton discovered it..." Thomas Merton was a man who lived a life of love, learning so much about it and Esther de Waal, a Benedictine, is a good person to help us along the way with this love that Thomas Merton knew. She asks questions in the days of the retreat. In day one, she asks, "Who am I before God at this point in my life?" She goes on in an intimate way, teaching us to become intimate with God: "...I am overawed to think of the person that I am, that unique person, so lovingly created by God in all the fullness and riches of my own individuality, a person made to be His daughter, His son." Is this too close for some readers (what I think is these are starting points for considerations). So, as to being too close, I think not; the book is personal. If the reader has a starting point of relationship with God, and is not afraid to explore both the sensitive and open areas of relationships, he or she will find these more meaningful statements as time goes on. This is a book to be used more than once, is what becomes apparent. Another thing this book helps with is the way of contemplation. As she quotes Thomas Merton, using his poetry throughout the book, we have a guide to help us in our spiritual exercise and quest. On "Day Three--The Solitary Within: The True Self" Merton is quoted: "What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves?" From Psalm 139 she quotes a response for this retreat exercise. "For it was you who created my being/knit me together in my mother's womb/I thank you for the wonder of my being,/for the wonders of all your creation." "Day Four--Encounter With Christ" is the fourth day, and the central day of the retreat. Remember,this book is a retreat for seven days read a chapter at a time, day by day. The great gift Merton offers readers is a sharing of his experience in contemplation, his spiritual journey, and mostly his coming to know God. The book is kept under the section of books for "Spirituality/Prayer" and those interested will find that they too are with "..the Christ of God who in the spirit of his love lives in the people of God..." This is a book that is

I attended a week long retreat where we used this book as a guide. I am not a very religious person at all, but this book changed my life. Merton challenges us to die to our false selves, to open our hearts to God and to accept contemplation of the mystery of God and his creations as the center of our lives. As an introduction to Merton and as a daily spiritual guide, this book is priceless.