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| Along the Way 9-9-11 |
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The Trappist monk Thomas Merton was one of the great spiritual lights of the 20th century; those who read and study this man’s writings will be enriched and challenged. Today I offer excerpts from an undated Merton prayer found in A Thomas Merton Reader Revised Edition (1974), 283-284: “Almighty and merciful God, Father of all men, Creator and Ruler of the Universe, Lord of History, whose designs are inscrutable, whose glory is without blemish, whose compassion for the errors of men is inexhaustible, in your will is our peace! “Mercifully hear this prayer which rises to you from the tumult and desperation of a world in which you are forgotten, in which your name is not invoked, your laws are derided and your presence is ignored. Because we do not know you, we have no peace. “From the heart of an eternal silence, you have watched the rise of empires and have seen the smoke of their downfall. You have seen Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome, once powerful, carried away like sand in the wind. “You have witnessed the impious fury of ten thousand fratricidal wars, in which great powers have torn whole continents to shreds in the name of peace and justice. “Save us from the compulsion to follow our adversaries in all that we most hate, confirming them in their hatred and suspicion of us. Resolve our inner contradictions, which now grow beyond belief and beyond bearing. Teach us to be long-suffering in anguish and insecurity. “Teach us to wait and trust. Grant light, grant strength and patience to all who work for peace, to this Congress, our President, our military forces, and our adversaries. “Grant us prudence in proportion to our power, Wisdom in proportion to our science, Humaneness in proportion to our wealth and might, And bless our earnest will to help all races and peoples to travel, in friendship with us, Along the road to justice, liberty, and lasting peace: But grant us above all to see that our ways are not necessarily your ways, That we cannot fully penetrate the mystery of your designs, And that the very storm of power now raging on this earth Reveals your hidden will and your inscrutable decision. Grant us to see your face in the lightning of this cosmic storm, O God of holiness, merciful to men: Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found! In your will, O God, is our peace!” Amen Creede Hinshaw P.S. This Sunday’s inspiring service includes a special congregational prayer, a duet by two of our children (11:00 a.m.) and a solo at 8:45 a.m. and words from church member Col. Mike Foster, recently returned from Afghanistan. If our organ technicians are successful our Noack organ will be completely repaired, too. Don’t miss this Sunday.
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