It's A Merton Morning. By: C.C.

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”  (Thomas Merton)

   As we further seek to discern the will of God and battle with the emotions that often plague us along the journey, much comfort can be found through the words of Thomas Merton.
    If we give ourselves permission to step back and allow God to continuously work, we will be able to truly accept and embrace whatever it is that may come. Regardless of the difficulties and challenges that may arise, Merton suggests that through embracing all things with courage, faith, and hope we are better suited to live in the present moment with more acceptance.It is then we come to truly let Christ be our compass and surrender everything to His time. 
      Merton succeeds in sharing the most important reminder of all by saying that we "do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going"..in reading these words I begin to let out a sigh of relief and  yet, at the same time recognize the amount of courage, faith, and hope that is required in order for me to be at peace with this. 
     Let our prayer then be one of acceptance. May we each come to learn the importance of living in the present moment. Let us yearn to grow in virtue of courage, faith, and hope more than we yearn to "know what is happening or exactly where it is all going". As we develop this ability the immensity of what may happen becomes easier to embrace. Spend time each day in prayer surrendering and asking God to aid you in strengthening the courage, faith, and hope that is already alive in you. Our Lord knows fully what it is that plagues us and those things that frighten us about our futures and our present moments alike. It is He who asks us to have courage, faith, and hope like the Saints before us. It is our Lord who is able to work with us and through us so that we are able to live with joy and trust in Him regardless of our circumstances. 
     Courage......one day at a time! (C.C.)