Retreats and programs

z2022: The Merton Prayer: An Exercise in Authenticity

Details

Date: Wednesday August 17, 2022 — online
Time: 10:00 am — 11:30 am Central
Duration: 90 Minutes
Cost: Free

The Merton Prayer is not a magical incantation. It is a gut-wrenchingly honest reaching-out to God and a looking-inward to view our true and false selves. Thomas Merton’s well-known prayer might change your life as it has the author’s. In this unique “exercise in authenticity” are fourteen reflections on the prayer that each unpack a single phrase or line of the 158 words that compose The Merton Prayer using:

Visual Metaphors: Four-color photographs that allow you to reflect on your initial emotional reactions and responses evoked by a few words of The Merton Prayer.

Scriptural Bases: Six scriptural passages that jump out with confirmation of what Merton is praying.

Exegesis: The real meaning of Merton’s words that you are encouraged to “ask and keep on asking about, making your asking a matter of daily habitual behavior.” 

Personal Stories: How Merton’s prayer has spoken to the author and others regarding their disappointments, joys, unexpected career changes, brushes with illness or death, and other major life events.

Turn It, Turn It, Turn It: Questions designed to stimulate your serious and deep reflection on the profound words of The Merton Prayer.

All are welcome!

 

(Free will offering is appreciated.)

 

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 that 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, 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 face my perils alone.

 

About the Facilitator

Steven A. Denny is a scholar, attorney, certified mediator, and ordained clergy.  Originally from Kentucky, he now lives in Oak Park, Illinois.  He and his wife, Miran, have five adult children, and a 13-pound Poodle/Bichon named St. Melangel (“Meli”).  Denny is a trial attorney and runs a law firm whose motto is “Striving for Justice in an Imperfect World” [www.DennyLaw.com].  He has a master’s degree in Hebrew from Lincoln Christian Seminary, a master’s degree in History from Illinois State University, was admitted to PhD candidacy in Semitic Philology at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, and obtained the Juris Doctor degree from The University of Illinois at Chicago John Marshall Law School.

 

 

August 17, 2022
Facilitated by: Steven Denny, Esq
10:00 AM Central

Sign Up

This event has expired.