Last month, I began meeting with a Selah Spiritual Director as part of my diaconal ministry plan. Our Lord provided a wonderful and kind director for me. We spent a good portion of our session praying and discussing the following prayer from Thomas Merton’s Thoughts in Solitude:

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.

Perhaps during this Lenten season you might feel the weight of uncertainty or even a sense of being lost in the shadow of death. On the other hand, you might be resting comfortably in the promises and peace of our Lord. The Church calendar teaches and reminds us of God’s redemptive work through Christ in all of Scripture, but it does not demand our feelings always match the sentiments of the season. There are highs and lows in every season and day of the calendar. However, perhaps our Lord might use this prayer to comfort you and reassure you that he and his promises are true and good. Our faithful Lord is ever with you!

“And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Mt 28:20b).”

John Laffoon
Deacon & Minister
to Youth and Families