Editor's Request

My editor, Annie O'Shaughnessy of Soul Flares magazine, asked me to back track and tell her how and when Thomas Merton,spiritual writer came to be such an influence in my life. I took a few minutes to simply stream my thoughts:

"I still remember the day. I was a novice in the Sisters of St. Joseph, standing before the side book case looking for a good read. I caught the title: The Sign of Jonas. I pulled it down, opened it at random to read a journal entry about two black men observed by the author, Merton, who were sitting outside on a long log reading a newspaper, and happily laughing at something, maybe what they were reading? Merton commented: These men were having more fun than we who are supposed to know so much, like these uneducated guys knew more than the monastery gurus..

I took the book out on the long dock over the St. Lucie River in Jensen Beach, to the edge where the wind really blows. This wild monk and writer was blessedly piercing my soul, teaching me how to find more of God. Merton made it sound so easy, so fluid. But of course, it was tough work. Here he was saying I could just be me, as I was, with my stuff out of place, with my dreams askew. Yes, I could trust God. But more, I could trust myself.

And after that, I read every Merton book we had in the convent.

Years later, as a single woman with my own name, Ms Azar, I initiated a Merton Group in my home. People were drawn to his idea of holiness which, simply put, meant being and becoming more of who we were, which any fool knows is the hardest of holy paths to follow. That group ran for almost twelve years. Some friends stayed for all those years.

And of course, Annie, I met my future husband, Jim because of Merton. His mother had read Merton, and he easily contracted the spiritual disease.

I have, and can't seem to let go of them, almost every book Merton ever wrote. I read him still, almost daily. His journals make me think and pray and yes, despair about the way governments lead us into destruction. His government at the time was the Nixon era, the bomb shelter buildup, and the horror of the Vietnam War.

But how we just can't give up. He poo pooed Television, but was so inflamed when he saw police dogs going after black people in Selma (was that the place?) he decided that TV had a place since good television was able to affect hearts.

Merton believed that a spark of God lived in all of us, and we could never, no matter how bad we were, (Hitler included), extinguish that spark. I think because of Merton I was lead to work for peace, for prejudice reduction, for feeding the homeless, for Middle East resolution... well... you get the idea.

Enough said???

Blessings,

Adele