The Center of our Being (a psalm by Thomas Merton)

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When I came across this psalm this morning from "Thomas Merton: A Book of Hours," tears filled my eyes.

In the center of our being is a point of nothingness
which is untouched by sin and by illusion,

a point of pure truth,
a point or spark which belongs entirely to God,
which is never at our disposal,
from which God disposes of our lives,
which is inaccessible to the fantasies of our own mind
or the brutalities of our own will.

This little point of nothingness and of absolute poverty
is the pure glory of God in us.

It is like a pure diamond, blazing with the invisible light of heaven.
It is in everybody, and if we could see it
we would see these billions of points of light
coming together in the face and blaze of a sun
that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely.

I have no program for this seeing.
It is only given.

But the gate of heaven is everywhere.

Reading this, I was reminded that no matter the circumstances of our lives, at the center of who we are, the divine is shining forth. Untouched by sin. Untouched by illusion. Mysterious, behind the gossamer veil, yet authentically who we are and are meant to be.

Comments

Jennifer said…
I love this prayer and the book from which it comes. Thank you!
August 3, 2007 at 4:02 PM
Jan said…
Katherine, how I needed this today. I guess I'm worried about going to WA and visiting Chuck's family and our daughter AE and her partner--I want to be kind and not caught into the trap of past reactions. I hope to remember that the "gate of heaven is everywhere." I'd better copy this and take it with me. Thank you!
August 3, 2007 at 4:53 PM
Elaine (aka...Purple) said…
Katherine,

Merton certainly captures beauty and wholeness at the most intimate level of who we are. Thanks for posting this.
August 3, 2007 at 5:13 PM
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