xt786688kz0q https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt786688kz0q/data/mets.xml  Thomas Merton 1959-03-30 This letter is from collection 66m28 Thomas Merton letters to Clifford Shaw, 1959-1964. archival material 66m28 English  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Thomas Merton correspondence Letter from Thomas Merton to Clifford Shaw, March 30, 1959 text Letter from Thomas Merton to Clifford Shaw, March 30, 1959 1959 1959-03-30 2023 true xt786688kz0q section xt786688kz0q 4%

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OUR LADY OF GETHSEMANI
TRAPPIST,KENTUCKY

March 30,1959

Dear Cliff:

Your note of March 18 reached me and I was very sorry to hear that your
health had given out on you. Don't be upset about it, or take it too hard. It
is probably a blessing in disguise. People who work very hard with their nerves
(artists always do) seldom know when to stop, and their system just has to stop
for them. It is probably perfectly natural and right: if you can't take care of
yourself, your system will stop automatically andmake you rest. The only trouble
is that if you regard it as a defeat, and worry about it, the rest will not do
you as much good as it might. So therefore take the tight attitude, don‘t feel
guilty about being sick or reproach yourself for not being made of iron: but
enofiyy your vacation and forget about the TV station. If you can get in the mood
to do a little spontaneous creative work, it might help much also. But the best
thing would be to forget completely about business and all such things.

Don't worry about what comes next, it will be taken care of.

You see, you don't have to act as if you were alone in running your life.
God is big enough to take care of you if only you will let him. Have a little faith
in His wisdom and love for you: and to havefaith you den't have to "see". It is
better if you don't see, the faith is then more perfect.

Later on if you get back to Louisville, why not come out and take a weekend
at the monastery sometime? I may or may not be able to see you, but that is not
the important thing. It would do you good to be here in the silence and listen to
the chant and what not. This is the nicesltime of year around here anyway.

Of course I will keep you in my prayers.
God bless your

All best wishes, in Christ

/ .
fit/t I'M/W

 

  

OF GETHSEMANI
1-Cisfercian Abbey
TRAPPIST, KY.

Mr Clifford Shaw
5019 E'Jarren Drive
Evansville
Indiana.