Struggling for a Vision...

My wife Pat and I have been for a time now in a period in which we are struggling to discern where God is leading us for the rest of our lives. After thirty five years we find ourselves wondering how we should bring our full time ministry to a close over the next few years, and what lies beyond for us? Certainly, given the financial climate, not the retirement we had once envisioned; so if not that, what?

I ran across a prayer for discernment written by the deeply spiritual Trappist monk, Thomas Merton today and it spoke so powerfully to me, I thought it should be shared with other seekers and struggling ones...

Prayer for Discernment

O 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 that 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 to please You.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road,
Though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will 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 make my journey alone.

Source: Thomas Merton, Pax Christi, Benet Press, Erie, PA.

Helped me on my way today, hope it does the same for you dear reader...