at Abbey of Gethsemani

A woman in the Fairlawn-West community (our church) has spent this week in silent retreat the Abbey of Gethsemani south of Bardstown, KY where Thomas Merton lived as a Trappist monk. This is the response we have from her both by a postcard and from a cell phone call on her way home today:

“I’m watching the sunrise Tues. a.m. You have to do this soon!! I knelt on the ground yesterday beside Fr. Louis’ grave! (Thomas Merton)

I can’t begin to tell you how ‘Holy’ this is. Br. Rene and I had a great conversation about Thomas Merton…he was here with him in ’68. I love the peace and serenity! Love, Linda”

summary of phone call: She is almost overwhelming with her sense of the spirit of God (I mean that in a very good way). She sounds like a different person. She sounded relaxed and calm and so full of the Spirit!! She said she had to call, not because she needed to talk with someone, but because she needed to share with someone what an awesome experience it was for her. She said that she realized she had been so worried about doing Jesus and getting it right that she had forgotten about being with Jesus and being Jesus to others. She said that she no longer needs a robbery to help her to feel God because she knew He was there and that she knows she needs to be more intentional of her faith. (A year ago Linda had a gun pointed at her head in a robbery of a store and she found herself feeling the calming presence of God at that point and then afterwards ministering to the emotional turmoil of the other folks in the store.) I don’t want to give anymore away because I cannot do her words justice because it was truly the feeling that I had just talking to her, the emotions and LOVE that she exuded in her every breath!! How wonderful it sounded to be such an out of control Christian!!!