You may have noticed that I frequently quote Thomas Merton. He one of my mentors. Merton grappled with the desire to live a life of solitude but also to go out and live in the world. This dialectic had to do with his personality more than with his circumstances. After all, he chose/was called to The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, a Roman Catholic religious order of cloistered contemplative monastics. I, too, am called to a solitary life but I also have family and friends that I’m committed too. I like my choices, even as I feel the pull and challenge of both solitude and social.
Merton shared through his writing. He spoke publically, but evidently was rather shy in that arena. During my teaching days I did a great deal of public speaking and I liked it. I talked about what I did in my classroom and why I did it. It was all about me and the kids.
But I don’t want to take public center stage anymore. Perhaps it has to do with the topic: God. Writing about God gives me the chance that, with God’s grace, what I say will be about God, with me as humble servant. Well, I sure have a long way to go with that one but I’m praying.
Merton shared through his writing. He spoke publically, but evidently was rather shy in that arena. During my teaching days I did a great deal of public speaking and I liked it. I talked about what I did in my classroom and why I did it. It was all about me and the kids.
But I don’t want to take public center stage anymore. Perhaps it has to do with the topic: God. Writing about God gives me the chance that, with God’s grace, what I say will be about God, with me as humble servant. Well, I sure have a long way to go with that one but I’m praying.
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