Words of Wisdom from Thomas Merton

How often do we hear the phrase “It’s my right” or “It’s my freedom” chanted by people? I truly wonder how many understand just what freedom and individual rights really mean. Instead of going in-depth with this reflection right now, I want to share these words of wisdom from Thomas Merton from No Man Is an Island.

Conscience is the soul of freedom, its eyes, its energy, its life. Without conscience, freedom never knows what to do with itself… Just as love does not find its fulfillment merely in loving blindly, so freedom wastes away when it merely “acts freely” without any purpose. (p. 27)