Letter to a Young Activist

This was written by Thomas Merton. I received it from a friend and it has inspired me for future work, even if I am not doing much of anything right now here in Italy =) Steve, especially thought of you for this one. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Do not depend on the hope of results. When you are doing the sort of work you have taken on, essentially an apostolic work, you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps the results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results but on the value, the truth of the work itself. And there, too, a great deal has to be gone through, as gradually you struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. The range tends to narrow down, but it gets much more real. In the end it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything.

You are fed up with words, and I don’t blame you. I am nauseated by them sometimes. I am, also, to tell the truth, nauseate by ideals with causes. This sounds like heresy, but I think you will understand what I mean. It is so easy to get engrossed with ideas and slogans and myths that in the end, no one is left in it. And then the temptation is, with no trace of meaning left, to yell louder than ever in order to make the meaning be there again by magic. Going through this kind of reaction helps you to guard against this. Your system is complaining of too much verbalizing, and it is right.

The big results are not in your hand or mine, but they suddenly happen and we can share in them, but there is no point in building our lives on this personal satisfaction, which may be denied us and which, after and is not that important.

The next step in the process is for you to see that your own thinking about what you are doing is crucially important. You are probably striving to build yourself and identify in your work, out of you work, and your witness. You are using it, so to speak, to protect yourself against nothingness, annihilation. That is not the right use of your work. All the good that you will do will come not from you, but from the fact that you have allowed yourself, in the obedience of faith, to be used by God’s love. Think on this more, and gradually you will be free form the needs to prove yourself, and you can be more open to the power that will work through you without your knowing it.

The great thing, after all, is to live, not to our out your life in the service of a myth; and we can turn the best things into myths. If you can get free from the domination of causes and just serve Christ’s truth, you will be able to do more and will be less crushed by the inevitable disappointments. Because I see nothing whatever in sight but much disappointment, frustration and confusion.

The real hope, then, is not in something we think we can do, but in God who is making something good out of it in someway we cannot see. If we can do God’s will, we will be helping in the process. But we will not necessarily know all about it beforehand… enough of this… at least it is a gesture… I will keep you in my prayers. All the best. In Christ, Tom

HERE I AM!

Ahh - words can't describe the last week and a half, but I'll spend just a few minutes trying.

Let's work backwards. At the moment, I am just outside of Milan, Italy. I can't say too much about it yet because it was dark when I landed and has been raining so we've been inside. But! I am excited to be here and also to spend time with Giada, the Italian girl I met at the hostel in Belfast, at whose house I am currently living... (deep breath)

...These past few days have been kind of a whirlwind. I left the monastery on Sunday (more on that in a moment) by taking a bus and a train into Paris. I spent the afternoon on the Eiffel Tower, which was absolutely fantastic, and then spent the night a few blocks down from the Sacre Coeur (yeah, I hadnt heard of it either but it's great) and the Moulin Rouge. Monday... yesterday!... I explored the city a little more, happened to pass MATT DAMON on his way out of the train station, freaked out like a girl but still managed to make it to the airport on time. Then I took a plane from Paris back to Belfast, where I was greeted by a bunch of friends and my roommates at our house and we had a grand old time until I decided I needed to pack. Went to bed at 2am and got up not too early to say a heartwrenching goodbye to my roommates and take a bus to Dublin, the airport at which I took the flight to Italy, where I am right now...

The monastery. Shoot, I really can't... hmm. Can I use adjectives? Peaceful. Quiet. Beautiful. I went there to spend time with God, thinking that in silence and prayer I would find him... but actually was most touched by his love through the people there. Never have been so impacted by the vulnerability and openness of other peoples' hearts. Still absolutely reeling from the experience and not quite sure what to make of it all, just that... it was mystery, and worship, and heart-centered instead of mind-centered. I don't know....

Anyway, I am as confused as you. But it's okay. I think I'll go to bed now because my heart has just worn me out. However, before I leave you.....Thank you for all your prayers! There have been so many small blessings and huge ones these past few weeks and a lot of the financial issues have worked themselves out and everything is okay. I am desperately eager to see you all. I feel like it's been such a long time...

If I don't post again soon, let me echo Charlie's sentiments - Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Taize

Based in the south of France, the Community of Taizé ministers to young people from all over the world. Founded by Brother Roger, a Swiss monk, during the Second World War, the brothers work for reconciliation between Christians.

The meditative music and style of prayer adopted by the community is now used by many groups and churches. More information can be found on the community's web site.

www.taize.fr/en

This is where I'm hoping to be starting November 12. If it works, I'm going to spend a week there with the monks. I'm really excited - but need some prayer:

That all of the travel details will work out, I'll be able to make the necessary preparations online (I'll be spending a little time in Paris before and after), and will be able to navigate my way through France without speaking a word of their language.

Trying to work out some financial issues - I have plenty of money here in cash, but no way to deposit it into my bank account, which means I'm limited on the use of my credit card. It'll turn out okay, but I'm worried and need to get back to trusting God!

That I'd finish up work well this next week, not slacking and still looking for opportunities.

That I'll make good use of my last week here in Belfast, seeing people and saying goodbye - aww, sad.

That God would speak to me during my time at Taize and I'd grow in my faith, for future benefits yet unknown. Yay!

That I'd be safe until I get home to see all of yoooooooooou! :)

Thank you! The countdown has begun. I love all of you very much!