The Journey that is Life

This evening I have been enjoying Sophronia Scott’s book, The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton.

It is a delightful conversation that I can truly relate to. This evening I was reading the section When Faith Tires. It is a topic that I can definitely relate to in my own life and ministry. She mentions how Merton spoke of joy even as he longed to explore another monastery. He was able to find the spiritual nourishment in the journey. Part of that nourishment was to find joy in life.

She shares this quote from Merton’s book, The Sign of Jonas: I think the chief reason why we have so little joy is that we take ourselves too seriously. (p. 73 in The Seeker and the Monk)

Sophronia, I needed to hear this today. Actually I need to hear it quite often. There is a tendency to take one’s self too seriously in the world of the clergy and a double whammy when you are a clergy-person and military chaplain. Yes, I am looking in the mirror!

Thank you for this gentle and humorous reminder. I can visualize you and Thomas Merton enjoying laughter and joy as stories are shared. I would love to be a part of that conversation. The picture below might just express the sort of joy that leads to Merton’s deep belly laughs!