Happy Independence Day - A Pilgrim's Prayer - by Thomas Merton

Happy July 4th, Chamber world - 241 years from the date of the Declaration of Independence.

A Pilgrim's Prayer - by Thomas Merton


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 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 that 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 will I 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.