John Charmley

“This life was given to you for repentance, do not waste it in vain pursuits.”
― St. Isaac the Syrian

“The first step toward finding God--who is truth--is to discover the truth about myself; and if I have been in error, this first step to truth is the discovery of my error”
― Thomas Merton, The Intimate Merton: His Life from His Journals – A Spiritual Autobiography of Monastic Wisdom and Global Faith

“Syrian monk, Isaac of Niniveh: Many are avidly seeking but they alone find who remain in continual silence. … Every man who delights in a multitude of words, even though he says admirable things, is empty within. If you love truth, be a lover of silence. Silence like the sunlight will illuminate you in God and will deliver you from the phantoms of ignorance. Silence will unite you to God himself. … More than all things love silence: it brings you a fruit that tongue cannot describe. In the beginning we have to force ourselves to be silent. But then there is born something that draws us to silence. May God give you an experience of this “something” that is born of silence. If only you practice this, untold light will dawn on you in consequence … after a while a certain sweetness is born in the heart of this exercise and the body is drawn almost by force to remain in silence.”
― Thomas Merton, Contemplative Prayer

“Make peace with yourself, and both heaven and earth will make peace with you.”
― St. Isaac the Syrian