The Road to a Meaningful Life
“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
The Trappist Monk, Thomas Merton, has been a role model l for me. It is not that I wish to emulate his life, but I appreciate how he lives an intentional life. A purposeful life means not living on autopilot but acting in response to thought and evaluation. Living purposefully does not mean we ignore our emotions but contemplate our feelings before responding. Further, we evaluate our actions by considering how we believe God is calling us.
In his article, “Three Life Lessons-from a Trappist Monk,” J.W. Bertolotti addresses three ways that guide us along the spiritual path: Happiness, Humility, and Being Enough. The first way is Happiness. Bertolotti writes that Merton believed we find happiness in relationships with other people. He asserts, “We cannot be happy if we expect to live all the time at the highest peak of intensity. Happiness is not a matter of intensity but balance, order, rhythm, and harmony.” Merton’s commitment to balance and harmony required the second path, Humility. Bertolotti reminds us of Merton’s words, “According to Merton, ‘We cannot achieve greatness unless we lose all interest in being great.’” It isn’t about us, but about other people and God. The more we focus on greatness, the further we get from our dream.
Finally, Bertolotti describes the third component of Merton’s spiritual path, Being Enough. Merton challenges the reader, “We must somehow strip ourselves of our greatest illusions about ourselves, frankly, recognize in how many ways we are unlovable, descend into the depths of our being until we come to the basic reality that is in us, and learn to see that we are lovable after all, in spite of everything!” Self-acceptance is frightening because it is impossible to obtain until we face our unlovable, imperfect sides. Yet, once we go to difficult places, acceptance becomes possible.
Today, pray for a Merton-type faith. Ask God to help you on the road to spiritual happiness through humility and self-acceptance. Do not fall victim to the illusion that joy is simple or that faith is easy. Honest reflection is uncomfortable and can hurt. Yet, God’s Spirit provides the way to a meaningful life with others in the struggle. So be courageous and turn your thoughts back on yourself.