THE QUESTION OF THE WICKED WORLD

This lecture by Thomas Merton given to monks in 1967 could have been given today.  I've put a link for the lecture at the bottom of this post.

I stop in my tracks hearing Merton say, "It's not contempt for what's in the world, but our contempt for what isn't there."  Or something to that effect.

 Do I have contempt for love?

Did I develop a contempt for love after many accumulated disappointments?

On some unconscious level I think I must have. 

That said, I like this Wikipedia definition, "Disappointment is the feeling of dissatisfaction that follows the failure of expectations or hopes to manifest.  Disappointment is normally a drain on our emotional energy, but it is possible to switch some disappointments around (metanoia) and turn them into sources of energy."  I'm thinking of the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13).  Lord, help me turn this and other disappointments into refurbished sources of energy, while remembering I am not alone.

On a last note, I'm thinking of a little story I was told this afternoon.
 
 I'm paraphrasing here:
 
The "wicked world" wrecked my dream of love,

Oh no! said my false self.

It didn't know my True self could say-- yay!

This is so good!

Now I can have a new dream of Love.

Amen

Freepik


Dedicated to my Salvation Army pastors!


 

 

 

 

 

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