Category Archives: Thomas Merton

Quotes on LOVE

Posted on February 26, 2016 by John

. “Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved. . . . To love another is to will what is really good for him [or her]. A love that . . . loves blindly merely for the … Continue reading →

Posted in "The Art of Loving", David Schnarch, Erich Fromm, Mature Love, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Perspective, Real Love, Thích Nhất Hạnh, Thomas Merton, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why Peace Is Difficult (If Not Impossible)

Posted on July 25, 2013 by John

Begin by drawing a circle. Outside of the circle, begin a list of everything you don’t like, that irks you, that spins you out or floods you emotionally; everything that is contrary to your tastes, preferences, temperament, beliefs, principles; everything … Continue reading →

Posted in B4Peace, Bloggers for Peace, Comfort Zone, Critical Thinking, Criticism, Discomfort Zone, Personal Growth, Perspective, R. D. Laing, The Examined Life, Thomas Merton, Truth, Waking Up | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Only He Who Takes Off His Shoes Truly Loves (On Noticing — & Noticing What We’re Normally Not Noticing)

Posted on March 8, 2013 by John

. Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries. ― Elizabeth Barrett Browning . This poem by Barrett Browning was inspired … Continue reading →

Posted in "When Death Comes", Albert Camus, Amazement, Attention, Beauty, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Exodus, Goethe, Josh Bell, Love, Marcel Proust, Mary Oliver, Mindfulness, Noticing, Photography, Thomas Merton, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Why Real Love Is So Difficult & Rare (updated 12-26-2012)

Posted on December 26, 2012 by John

. (This is an updated version of a post I first publish on Feb 28, 2012 — “Why Real Love Is So Difficult & Rare“) . . “We have lost our sense of values: when your fence falls, you mend … Continue reading →

Posted in Conscience, Conscious Love, Courage, Czeslaw Milosz, Differentiation, Emotional Maturity, Generosity, Honesty, Immature Love, Intimate Relationships, Love, Love is Not a Feeling, Mature Love, Mental Health, Real Love, Self-Extension, Spiritual Growth, Thích Nhất Hạnh, Thomas Merton, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Happy Festivus, Momastery!

Posted on December 22, 2012 by John

. . Ah, Festivus! That non-holiday holiday for the rest of us that features “the airing of grievances.” And on this Festivus Eve, I have a grievance that I want to air: Glennon Doyle Melton doesn’t really love Jesus. She … Continue reading →

Posted in "Don't Carpe Diem", "The Weight of Glory", C.S. Lewis, Carpe Diem, Glennon Melton, Gratitude, Immature Love, Matthew 25:40, Momastery, Real Love, Spiritual Growth, Thomas Merton, Truth, Uncategorized, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

How to Fall in Love Again

Posted on December 7, 2012 by John

(This is an updated version of a page I first posted over a year ago . . . )  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “I have no … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Lewis, GinaParris.com, Glennon Melton, Love, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is a Decision, Love is Not a Feeling, M. Scott Peck, Mature Love, Momastery, Real Love, Self-Extension, The Road Less Traveled, Thomas Merton, What is Love?, Zig Ziglar | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Love, Impermanence, Uncertainty, Fear: Which Wins?

Posted on October 19, 2012 by John

. . I posted this over on one of my other blogs, but the topic is apropos here as well. . . . . The Buddha said: “Life is suffering.” Sickness, old age, death: these things cannot be avoided. But most … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Death, Denial, Love, Mental Health, Real Love, Thomas Merton, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Brief Book Review of M. Scott Peck’s “The Road Less Traveled”

Posted on September 24, 2012 by John

. . In “The Road Less Traveled,” psychiatrist Morgan Scott Peck (M. Scott Peck) begins the book by turning on its end one of our most cherished and fundamental assumptions about life—that it ought to be easy. The vast majority of we human … Continue reading →

Posted in M. Scott Peck, Mental Health, Real Love, Self-Extension, Spiritual Growth, The Road Less Traveled, Thomas Merton, Truth, Waking Up | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Thomas Merton on Love

Posted on August 1, 2012 by John

. “Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work.” – Anna Quindlen When we are leading a life based on real … Continue reading →

Posted in "The Velveteen Rabbit", 1 John 4:16-18, Anna Quindlen, Chris Rock, Conscious Love, Courage, Emotional Maturity, Intimate Relationships, Mature Love, Mental Health, Real Love, Schnarch, Self-Extension, Spiritual Growth, Thomas Merton, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Why Do We Love?

Posted on June 19, 2012 by John

Why Do We Love?  Is it for our own sake or the sake of the one we are loving? [W]e don’t love people and animals because we will have them forever, we love them because loving them changes us, makes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, Conscience, Courage, Czeslaw Milosz, Emotional Maturity, Immature Love, Intimate Relationships, M. Scott Peck, Mature Love, Mental Health, Real Love, Thomas Merton, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments