Psalm 25:4&5
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
“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.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that
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 hope I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
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 – Thoughts in Solitude
Reflection:
“Walk cheerfully and with a sincere and open heart as much as you can, and when you cannot always maintain this holy joy, at least do not lose your trust in God.” – St. Pio da Pietrelcina
What are some gifts you’ve encountered as you’ve walked along your own journey? Give gratitude for the gifts along the way.
Have you experienced this “holy joy” of walking cheerfully and with an open heart? Take a few minutes to journal about that experience.
Perhaps you find yourself in a place of discerning which way to go. We invite you to reflect or pray the prayer from Thomas Merton.