In a time of drastic change
one can be too preoccupied with what is ending
or too obsessed with what seems to be beginning.
or too obsessed with what seems to be beginning.
In either case one loses touch with the present
and with its obscure but dynamic possibilities.
and with its obscure but dynamic possibilities.
You do not need to know what is happening,
or exactly where it is all going.
or exactly where it is all going.
What you need is to recognize the possibilities
and challenges offered by the present moment,
and challenges offered by the present moment,
and embrace them with courage, faith and hope.
In such an event,
courage is the authentic form taken by love.
courage is the authentic form taken by love.
~ Thomas Merton
from Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
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2 comments:
"It is an easy thing to talk of patience to the afflicted
To speak the laws of prudence to the homeless wanderer" - William Blake
Although probably not what was intended by this post, here's how it landed on me. Coupling the picture of the crying Japanese (?) woman amidst the rubble of her life with some lines from Merton about dealing with drastic change and embracing the possibilities and challenges presented by the present moment (in this case the tsunami) - seems less than helpful. It seems to try to minimize the horror of that particular devastation into a tamer, more banal occurrence where things would be better if only people would recognize the dynamic possibilities of the present moment. It almost seems to be lecturing the crying woman..
yes, thanks Roy. A worthy point.
Your thoughts are appreciated.
dean
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