ADVICE FROM A BUSY ADMINISTRATOR

"Spirituality is not to be learned by flight from the world, or by running away from things, or by turning solitary and going apart from the world. Rather, we must learn an inner solitude wherever or with whomsoever we may be. We must learn to penetrate things and find God there....Some people prefer solitude. They say their peace of mind depends on this. Others say they would be better off in church. If you do well, you do well wherever you are. If you fail, you fail wherever you are. Your surroundings don't matter. God is with you everywhere - in the market place as well as in seclusion or in the church. If you look for nothing but God, nothing or no one can disturb you. God is not distracted by a multitude of things. Nor can we be." 

Meister Eckhart, alias Eckhart von Hochheim (ca. 1260-1328), Dominican theologian, mystic and monastic supervisor from Thuringia.




Hat tip: "Mid-Week from St Matthias", St Matthias's RC Church, Somerset, NJ.

FROM A RUGGED AND THOROUGHLY MODERN MYSTIC

Thomas Merton in his handbuilt Kentucky hermitage

"We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent, and God is shining through it all the time. God manifests Himself everywhere, in everything - in people and in things and in nature and in events. The only thing is we don't see it...I have no program for this seeing. It is only given. But the gate of heaven is everywhere.

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. 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 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."

Thomas Merton