| Helpful meditation-retreat for going into the heart | | | | kept under the section of books for "Spirituality |
| with God: | | | | Prayer" and those interested will find that they |
| Today, again, I asked myself during centering | | | | too are with "..the Christ of God who in the spirit |
| prayer, to let my heart be open to God. This is | | | | of his love lives in the people of God..." This is a |
| the Christocentric God of the Trinity about which | | | | book that is open to the reader, and open to |
| I speak. The book, "A Seven Day Journey with | | | | people who are seekers of God who desire to |
| Thomas Merton" by Esther de Waal is an | | | | pray. This is a prayerful book, need I say. |
| excellent exercise for home retreat that helps | | | | How religious is this book? I ask the question so |
| one come to opening the heart to God. The book | | | | that you as a reader will know that this is a book |
| does so in words, and it has photographs by | | | | that is approachable. It "answers" the statement |
| Thomas Merton. | | | | by John Cassian, in his "Conferences" which I am |
| Irregardless, through the words or by looking at | | | | now reading about the relationship with God that |
| the photographs, one can find a way of looking at | | | | a seeker may look for in his life. Even the |
| the world in the everyday and finding God. Set | | | | advanced who are spiritually inclined will find this an |
| out as a seven day journey, take the book kindly | | | | approachable book by this measure of Cassian's: |
| and give it attention during the day, setting aside | | | | "...We ought to know where we should fix our |
| the time to go into the retreat. In the notes on | | | | mind's attention and to what goal we should |
| Thomas Merton, the writer says, "The message | | | | always recall our soul's gaze." That can be an |
| of love, the primacy of love, this is the most | | | | advanced question for many of us, and this book |
| basic definition of monastic life as Merton | | | | is helpful in meeting the statement's intent for |
| discovered it..." | | | | one's life. This is a book that has life moving |
| Thomas Merton was a man who lived a life of | | | | possibilities, one step at a time. |
| love, learning so much about it and Esther de | | | | I would be missing a significant aspect of this |
| Waal, a Benedictine, is a good person to help us | | | | book if I did not mention the photographs by |
| along the way with this love that Thomas Merton | | | | Thomas Merton. One can say that one has seen |
| knew. | | | | his photographs, if one reads this book. Something |
| She asks questions in the days of the retreat. In | | | | worthwhile for an educated person in the 21st |
| day one, she asks, "Who am I before God at this | | | | century. If you are a reader of the journal |
| point in my life?" She goes on in an intimate way, | | | | "Weavings" you may come to Thomas Merton's |
| teaching us to become intimate with God: "...I am | | | | photographs better prepared for seeing the |
| overawed to think of the person that I am, that | | | | contemplative in everyday things. The Journal is a |
| unique person, so lovingly created by God in all | | | | quarterly series of articles from Upper Room |
| the fullness and riches of my own individuality, a | | | | publications on such topics. "A Seven Day Journey |
| person made to be His daughter, His son." Is this | | | | with Thomas Merton" does a comprehensive job |
| too close for some readers (what I think is these | | | | of helping one to see. Thomas Merton sees things |
| are starting points for considerations). So, as to | | | | in his world, and one must look at the |
| being too close, I think not; the book is personal. | | | | photographs and then make the connection with |
| If the reader has a starting point of relationship | | | | the common things of ones world and life. That |
| with God, and is not afraid to explore both the | | | | for me is a good entry point of understanding |
| sensitive and open areas of relationships, he or | | | | these photographs in a book that is a retreat. |
| she will find these more meaningful statements as | | | | A commentary on Thomas Merton by a woman |
| time goes on. This is a book to be used more | | | | who is well prepared and able to make such |
| than once, is what becomes apparent. | | | | commentary, essentially this book is her |
| Another thing this book helps with is the way of | | | | interpretation of Merton's writings set as a retreat |
| contemplation. As she quotes Thomas Merton, | | | | for people at home or use in a retreat setting |
| using his poetry throughout the book, we have a | | | | away from home. With a foreword by Henri |
| guide to help us in our spiritual exercise and quest. | | | | Nouwen, and photographs by Thomas Merton |
| On "Day Three--The Solitary Within: The True | | | | (including a most intriguing one of him next to a |
| Self" Merton is quoted: "What can we gain by | | | | cross -- large, large one) on the cover, the title by |
| sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross | | | | Esther de Waal is published by Servant |
| the abyss that separates us from ourselves?" | | | | Publications of Ann Arbor, Michigan. I listened to a |
| From Psalm 139 she quotes a response for this | | | | webcast some years ago, from Trinity Church in |
| retreat exercise. "For it was you who created my | | | | New York if memory is correct, when a woman |
| being/knit me together in my mother's womb/I | | | | editor with Publisher's Weekly said that one of the |
| thank you for the wonder of my being,/for the | | | | things that competed with Church life was good |
| wonders of all your creation." | | | | reading -- in other words books. This is one of |
| "Day Four--Encounter With Christ" is the fourth | | | | those books that can compete with a retreat |
| day, and the central day of the retreat. | | | | time away from home, and for me that was the |
| Remember,this book is a retreat for seven days | | | | value of it. I could have the book at home, use it |
| read a chapter at a time, day by day. The great | | | | for study and prayer on a seven day course and |
| gift Merton offers readers is a sharing of his | | | | come closer to God in my relationship with Him |
| experience in contemplation, his spiritual journey, | | | | by the book. This book is a good thing in the |
| and mostly his coming to know God. The book is | | | | world. |