The great work of the solitary life is gratitude. the hermit is one who knows the mercy of God better than other men because his whole life is one of complete dependence, in silence and in hope, upon the hidden mercy of our Heavenly Father.
The further I advance into solitude the more clearly I see the goodness of all things.
In order to live happily in solitude I must have a compassionate knowledge of the goodness of other men, a reverent knowledge of the goodness of all creation and a humble knowledge of the goodness of my own body and of my own soul. How can I live in solitude if I do not see everywhere the goodness of God,my creator and Redeemer and the Father of all good?
What is it that has made me evil and hateful to myself? It is my own folly, my own darkness, which have divided me , by sin, against the light which God has placed in my soul to be the reflection of His goodness and the witness of His mercy.
Shall I drive evil out of my soul by wrestling with my own darkness? This is not what God has planned for me. It is sufficient to turn away from darkness to His light. I do not have to run away from myself : it is sufficient that I find myself, not as I have made myself, by my own stupidity,but as He has made me in his wisdom and remade me in His infinite mercy. For it is His will that my body and soul should be the Temple of His Holy Spirit, that my life should reflect the radiance of His love and my whole being repose in His peace. Then I will truly know Him , since I am in Him and He is truly in me.
Thomas Merton ( Thoughts in Solitude)
The further I advance into solitude the more clearly I see the goodness of all things.
In order to live happily in solitude I must have a compassionate knowledge of the goodness of other men, a reverent knowledge of the goodness of all creation and a humble knowledge of the goodness of my own body and of my own soul. How can I live in solitude if I do not see everywhere the goodness of God,my creator and Redeemer and the Father of all good?
What is it that has made me evil and hateful to myself? It is my own folly, my own darkness, which have divided me , by sin, against the light which God has placed in my soul to be the reflection of His goodness and the witness of His mercy.
Shall I drive evil out of my soul by wrestling with my own darkness? This is not what God has planned for me. It is sufficient to turn away from darkness to His light. I do not have to run away from myself : it is sufficient that I find myself, not as I have made myself, by my own stupidity,but as He has made me in his wisdom and remade me in His infinite mercy. For it is His will that my body and soul should be the Temple of His Holy Spirit, that my life should reflect the radiance of His love and my whole being repose in His peace. Then I will truly know Him , since I am in Him and He is truly in me.
Thomas Merton ( Thoughts in Solitude)
