Dear God,

I’ve picked up Merton again, a book of his letters, The Hidden Ground of Love, in order to make a stumbling attempt to open myself back to you. After a few days of reading, I thought I may as well try to pray again, and if I am to pray, I thought, I may as well write my prayers, since I call myself a writer. And if I’m writing, I may as well put it out in the world, because I’m sick of hiding. Thus, a blog of prayers. The point is not some form of spiritual exhibitionism; I’m neither spiritual nor an exhibitionist. Merton wrote, “the law of all spiritual life is the law of risk and struggle, and possible failure.” As you know — assuming you exist, have a mind of some sort, care and listen to individual persons within the cosmos, speak English, etc. — I have risked nothing as of late, though I’ve struggled. So let this be a risk of some sort.

If I’m honest I find Merton’s thought both utterly attractive and alienating. Continue reading →