Reflection on solitude by Thomas Merton
/
Solitude. Silence. Peacefulness.
Ever Friday I go to the Adoration chapel and spend an hour praying with Jesus. Many times I bring my Bible or a book on the Eucharist. Recently I had to give a presentation on the reason why God became man and died on the cross. So I brought the papers with me and asked Jesus to help me. I figured he knows the story better than anyone. When I went yesterday, I only brought my Rosary, which takes me about 25 minutes to pray. The rest of the time I just simply sat in silence with my Lord. Just experiencing his presence and allowing him to put whatever images or thoughts he wanted me to have. Or nothing. Peaceful solitude. Rich silence.
“As soon as a man is fully disposed to be alone with God, he is alone with God no matter where he may be —in the country, the monastery, the woods or the city. The lightning flashes from East to West, illuminating the whole horizon and striking where it pleases and at the same instant the infinite liberty of God flashes in the depths of that man’s soul, and he is illumined. At that moment he sees that though he seems to be in the middle of his journey, he has already arrived at the end. For the life of grace on earth is the beginning of the life of glory. Although he is a traveler in time, he has opened his eyes, for a moment, in eternity.”
