Memorizing a Prayer

Recently I found myself reflecting on a well-known prayer that was written over half a century ago by Thomas Merton. Merton was a Catholic writer, mystic, Trappist monk, poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion. He was the author of more than seventy books, including an autobiography and numerous books on spirituality. His writings have become well known in broad Christian circles; many Presbyterians today find words of comfort, hope, and strength in Merton's writings. You can learn more about his message and lasting influence at the Merton Institute for Christian Living (www.mertoninstitute.org).

Merton has one particular prayer that has etched its way into many people's hearts, including my own. It goes like this:

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 I will 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.

What a beautiful prayer, magnificent in its simplicity and its honesty. "The fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so." How absolutely true! "But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you." Amen! "And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing." Indeed!

This prayer is powerful because it speaks. It speaks to our human hearts. There are many things in this world that are worth meditating on, and this prayer is one of those. There are many things in this world that are worth committing to our memory banks. I think this prayer has made it onto that list for me. I have prayed this prayer numerous times over my life, but I think I need to do more than that. I think I need to spend enough time with this prayer that it soaks deep into my soul, to the point where I have it stored permanently within me so that I can pull it out whenever and wherever I feel the need.

What about you? What prayers do you have committed to memory? What prayers have you spent so much time with that they simply have become a part of who you are? Maybe we all need to work on building up our repertoire. . . .

Peace and blessings,

Bill