I remember the story of a terrible outlaw who was terrorizing villages. Whenever the people heard he was coming, they fled and left all for him. As he approached one village, everyone fled, except one monk. When the outlaw heard that the monk had remained in his monastery he was outraged. He broke down the gates of the monastery and confronted the monk. "Do you know who I am? I am the one who can kill you on the spot." The monk looked at him calmly and replied, "Do you know who I am? I am the one who can let you kill me on the spot."

Freedom!

Whatever decision I make about my future. I want to make it freely-free to let go or free to go on.,Letting go of my life in this world-the life I live in the knowledge of the world through my writings, lectures, and activities-I may well find a greater freedom with the eternal life here and now. What more could I want? Falling to the ground—ding in the sight of the world, my life can become more fruitful. Is that what you want, Lord?

Is freedom to be found in saying "no" to what many ask and expect of me? Or should I be free enough to say "yes" without fear of losing anything of the contemplative reality of my own union with the Lord?

I pray the last words of the Benedictus: "Give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death … Guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.79)

—M Basil Pennington OCSO. Engaging the World with Merton, (Brewster, Mass.: Paraclete, 2005) p. 66.