The Road Ahead

The Road Ahead
by Thomas Merton

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, monk, spent the majority of every day in prayerful presence before God. Still, this prayer emerged. It is a prayer of humility and trust. It is wise to remember the limitation of human knowledge. We can never, ever be totally certain that the choices we make reflect God's will. We get glimpses of confirmation, perhaps, when the fruits of our choices reflect lasting goodness or wholeness. When we experience movement towards deeper love of God or deeper love of the "other" (whoever that "other" may be) we can also trust that we are following God's will for our life.

It is always a mystery, isn't it? Thank God we aren't in this endeavor called "faithful living" alone!!!!!!