The wisdom of Thomas Merton (1915-1968) continues to stir the hearts and minds of people of all religions and spiritual paths. All of his journals — 1.3 million words — are available for study and discussion. Lunus Mundy, author of Turning to God to Get Through Grief, has focused mainly on this prolific monk's journals and the spiritual themes which served as catalysts to the fervor of his faith, contemplation, and practice. He sums up Merton's ministry by calling him "a patron of all who would dearly love God, who would go deep to search for his light and beauty, who would do his Will, whatever and wherever." No wonder so many Trappists have adopted "God alone" as a mantra for their everyday spirituality.
In fifteen short but succinct chapters, Mundy sums up some of the major themes of Merton's writings: simplicity, becoming one's true self, prayer and contemplation, nonviolence, pleasing God, silence and solitude, community, mystery, and death and eternity.
