Happy Birthday Thomas Merton
Oh Sweet Irrational Worship
Wind and a bobwhite
And the afternoon sun.By ceasing to question the sun
I have become light,Bird and wind.
My leaves sing.
I am earth, earth
All these lighted things
Grow from my heart.A tall, spare pine
Stands like the initial of my first
Name when I had one.When I had a spirit,
When I was on fire
When this valley was
Made out of fresh air
You spoke my name
In naming Your silence:
O sweet, irrational worship!I am earth, earth
My heart’s love
Bursts with hay and flowers.
I am a lake of blue air
In which my own appointed place
Field and valley
Stand reflected.I am earth, earth
Out of my grass heart
Rises the bobwhite.Out of my nameless weeds
His foolish worship.
-Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton was a Trappist monk who believed deeply in contemplation and interfaith dialogue. The Website of Unknowing has a great overview of his life.
The video below is of the dedication of Thomas Merton Square in Louisville Kentucky. It made me tear up around the 4 minute mark when they had representatives from about 8 different religions taking turns reading Merton’s Shining Like the Sun Vision. He was a great man. I am really looking forward to sculpting him as part of my Mystic Vessel series.
Here is the direct link for my email subscribers.
Related posts:
Sunday, January 31st, 2010,
by Sybil and is filed under "Mystics, Poetry, Thomas Merton, Video, Mystics, Poetry, Thomas Merton, Video ".
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4 Responses “Happy Birthday Thomas Merton”
I appreciate this from Thomas Merton. When I was at that Richard Rohr conference 1 1/2 weeks ago, James Finley told a story about when he was a novice under Thomas Merton. He was only about 19 and thought he was spiritually advanced. He supposed he was in the 3rd or 4th mansion according to St. Teresa. So he asked his novice master, TM, where he was. Thomas Merton answered, “It’s none of your damned business! It’s only God’s business.”
.-= Jan´s last blog ..Happy Groundhog Day! =-.
Twitter ID:
painterofblue
says:
Wow! That is a great story! I just finished sculpting my St. Theresa sculpture and I’m going to be starting Merton soon (I think, the clay has to approve first) so it’s in sync with my world too. That conference sounds like it was amazing.
Twitter ID:
karinbartimole
says:
I was surprised how the video brought tears to my eyes. Just love Merton’s inclusive and spiritual message. Thank you for sharing his words, and this dedication.
.-= Karin Bartimole´s last blog ..January 30th & 31st =-.
Twitter ID:
painterofblue
says:
Karin, Congratulations again on finishing your journal. You are amazing!