I received a most thoughtful Christmas gift yesterday. It was from Sister Lucy Walter of Kansas; it was the first printing of a book I have wanted for a long time – The Book Of Hours, by Kathleen Deignan,  a collection of prayers, poems and meditations by Thomas Merton.

Deignan has chosen some of  Merton’s most beautiful and thoughtful writings –  arranged as prayers to be offered at dawn, midday, dusk, and night hours of each day. It is just about the perfect gift for me now, in a period of deepening contemplation, solitude, and meditation.

It will inspire me and strengthen me as I bumble along my spiritual trek. And it will make my silent h on the bour richer and more meaningful. If you can open your heart, you will get what you need. I’m learning this lesson again and again.

The book was published in 2007, and Deignan did an excellent job of culling through some of Merton’s most brilliant writings, most of them never published before.

I have written a few times on the blog about my daily hour of silence, every day in the late afternoon. This hour of solitude has become sacred to me, a chance to catch up with myself, see the truth about me and grow and learn.

Sister Lucy read what I wrote, and sent me the book and this letter, which touched my heart and lifted it. This thoughtfulness and empathy is unique and humbling thing to me:

“Dear Jon, Thought you might find Thomas Merton’s Book Of Hours something to enjoy during your time of silence.

Thank you for your deep sharing in your writings, and thank you for all you do and your Army Of Good do for so many. Bless you, for touching these lives. Enjoy the silence of the Advent Season.”  – Sister Lucy Walter.

What a beautiful gift, and thank you, Sister. I will read from this beautiful book every morning at sunrise and every day during my hour of silence. I can’t imagine a better thing to read as the sun rises and in that particular hour.

I wanted to share a couple of passages from the book for Wednesday today:

Sunrise:

“Sunrise is an event that calls forth solemn music in the very depths of man’s nature, as if one’s whole being had to attune itself to the cosmos and praise God for the new day, praise Him in the name of all the creatures that ever were or ever will be”

Silence:

“Although we know no hills, no country rivers,

Here in the jungles of our waterpipes and iron ladders,

Our thoughts are quieter than rivers,

Our loves are simpler than the trees,

Our prayers are deeper than the seas.

We have found, we have found,

the places where the rain is deep and silent.

We have found the fountains of the spring,

where the Lord emerges refreshed every morning!

He has laid His hand upon our shoulders,

and our heart, like a bird, has spoken!”

— Thomas Merton, The Book Of Hours

This morning, I’m heading over to the Mansion for my weekly meditation class and meditation with the residents. Sister Lucy has inspired me to propose doing a weekly reading of this book for any residents who wish to come and hear it. I think it’s perfect for them. Good really does beget good.