Sep 17 2005
Current Leadership-Thoughts Blog: A Prayer by Thomas Merton from “Thoughts in Solitude”
If there is one thing that intuitive and authentic leaders understand, it is the fact that life is filled with vicissitudes most of which are unpredictable and often tumultuous. Each season of disruption in our lives often leaves us painfully aware of our finitude and total lack of control. This prayer by Thomas Merton, one of my favorite writers, seems to sum-up with amazing accuracy what “I” often feel about the unpredictability of life, my own flawed humanness juxtaposed with my own desire to be in the right place, doing the right thing, and making the maximum (positive and beneficial) impact in this world:
Thomas Merton, “Thoughts in Solitude”
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.