Seminarians' Musing: Reflection, Prayer and Commentary: September 2015

A prayer in discernment

Thoughts in Solitude

(Thomas Merton)

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

that 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.

Amen.