Music Reflection: A spark

I would like to offer you this short, yet profound, prayer by the Trappist monk Thomas Merton (1915-1968). The prayer demonstrates unique honesty and truth; a spark I believe we need in this moment of history.

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 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 will I 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. 

 I also leave you with a composition for choir, The Suffering Servant, based upon the text from Isaiah 53. I composed this piece in 2012 in honor of Dr. Jesse Hopkins, Professor of Music at Bridgewater College. Since then, the piece has been performed national as well as internationally by the Western Michigan University Chorale under the direction of Dr. Kimberly Dunn-Adams.  I hope you enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv7D4J-f_3o

May each of you find love, peace, and rest in the upcoming week.

With Metta,

Ryan Keebaugh 

www.ryankeebaugh.com