Thomas Merton’s Timeless Guide to Inner Peace
How His Teachings Reveal the Key to Filling Life’s Void
The search for peace is often one wrought with discontent. Ironically, many of us seek clarity and peace in our lives, yet overlook the one place where it can truly be found. Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, recognized a profound connection between our discontent with others, our inner turmoil, and our relationship with God.
In this article, I’d like to explore one of his quotes that has the potential to shift your perspective on finding peace and understanding where it truly resides:
“We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.” — Thomas Merton
Self-Awareness and Projection
Let’s dissect the first part of Merton’s quote and explore how our lack of peace with others is deeply connected to our inner discord.
This idea resonates with me because I’ve often noticed myself focusing on flaws in others, only to realize that the very trait I criticized was something I also viewed as a flaw in myself. Unfortunately, these realizations sometimes come too late, leaving others feeling judged. In truth, my own insecurities often amplify my focus on another’s similar shortcomings.
As I’ve grown more reflective and patient with myself, I’ve begun to notice a pattern in my interactions. When I feel aggravated or annoyed, I now pause to examine why I’m reacting that way. More often than not, it’s because the trait I find irritating in others mirrors something I perceive as an imperfection in myself.
By pausing and internalizing these feelings, I’ve learned to replace disdain with empathy. This shift allows me to connect with others on a deeper level, rather than remaining trapped in judgment.
The Hole Within
When we examine the second portion of Merton’s quote, it becomes clear that our inner peace stems from something far greater than our thoughts or worldly distractions.
Merton suggests that this peace comes from God — the only source capable of filling the profound emptiness within us.
We often try to fill this internal void with external pursuits — possessions, achievements, or fleeting pleasures — but these efforts never truly satisfy. After recently losing my father, I found myself sorting through his vast collection of belongings. I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer accumulation of a lifetime and wonder: to what end?
In a conversation with someone devoted to religious life, I asked, “Does it only strengthen your perspective when you see people focus their lives on the worldly rather than the spiritual?” Their response was simple yet profound:
“No, I just see people trying to fill the emptiness in their lives, often with the wrong things.”
That thought struck me deeply. We are all trying to fill the hole in our lives, but only one thing can truly satisfy it. Everything else will leave us yearning for more.
Surrender and Acceptance
For years, I tried to fill my own life with objects and possessions in the hope of finding contentment, but it never came. No matter how much money I made or what I acquired, the feeling of satisfaction was fleeting. I was always chasing something — a moment, a feeling, an elusive sense of completion.
However, I’ve found that when I shift my focus to something larger than myself and place my faith in that, there’s a sense of peace that doesn’t require chasing. It’s not about constant searching but about surrender and acceptance. True peace comes when we let go of the need to control everything and embrace the understanding that life is far bigger than we are.
Merton’s words are an invitation — a call to seek peace not through control, accumulation, or worldly validation but through God. Accepting this means surrendering our need to fix everything and embracing the eternal relationship that God offers us.
When we begin to trust in something greater than ourselves, we also find that we no longer need to control others or judge their perceived flaws. Instead, we open ourselves to understanding and acceptance. This shift allows us to experience a deeper connection — with ourselves, the world, and the divine.
The Present Moment
The peace we all long for isn’t something to strive toward or achieve through effort. Instead, it’s a conscious understanding of the natural order of the world and recognizing the limits of our control.
True peace comes from releasing your worries to a higher presence and surrendering to the moment with faith and trust.
Pray, meditate, and allow yourself to fully embrace the present, knowing that this moment simply is. Be invested in it entirely. Merton encourages us to find this sense of order by placing our faith in God. When we do, the other aspects of our lives will naturally align, and peace will flow accordingly.
True peace isn’t found in the world around us but in surrendering to the divine within. How will you embrace this peace today?
