“This, then, is our desert: to live facing despair, but not to consent. To trample it down under hope in the Cross. To wage war against despair unceasingly. That war is our wilderness. If we wage it courageously, we will find Christ at our side. If w cannot face it, we will never find Him. – Thomas Merton
There is a blessed response to despair found in the shade of the cross. It is in the moment of most undue suffering where we find our God who has conquered despair. There are rich reasons why He died in such an earthly violent fashion; He had to in order to show His control. Now, in this, we have been given the task of not falling into earthly despair but remaining in Godly peace, despite the circumstances.
Despair forces us to choose a side to worship: our circumstances or our Christ
Courage has always been a founding trait of Christianity. There is no way around the deep need for it above all other virtues, for courage tells others and ourselves that whatever the circumstance, it is worth it and we have hope. Desperate hope is still hope. I love Merton’s quote because it is anything but passive. He declares war on despair “unceasingly”. He recognizes the massive wave of daily despair we can surrender to in this life. Merton is urging us to stand firm, look for the divine, and fight against the now polluted desert.
Today will give you reason to despair. Some desires will be deferred and others will be colored in sin. May we find such courage as to fight against the darkness. Wage war on your circumstances and may you find peace at the foot of the wonderful cross.
Matt simon blog 