My newest book titled The Significance of the Writing of Thomas Merton is available at this link:

https://fp.fastpencil.com/products/TLOMU5LORPB2

Social critic and supporter of human rights, Thomas Merton is an important writer in the American literary tradition. His explorations of religions of the east initiate Merton’s entrance into interreligious dialogue. He lived from 1915 to 1968. He was a writer and a Trappist Monk. Exegesis, though, often used in conjunction with textual analysis of scripture, refers to the interpretation and analysis of any text. Upon death of Thomas Merton on December 10, 1968 at a monastic meeting on interreligious monastic life in Bangkok, the Exegesis of his works have become a global phenomenon. His funeral was held in The Abbey of Gethsemani near Bardstown, Kentucky, on December 17, 1968. By seeking to find connections in the works of Merton, I eventually return to my own journaling and my prayer journaling as well, to reconstruct my own writing as a peaceful endeavor.

Action research case study, The Significance of the Writing of Thomas Merton, is qualitative research. The purpose of the project centers on my own desire to share a life time of wonder and motivation from reading works by Thomas Merton. As a child, I was introduced to Merton’s autobiography, a capstone literary piece paramount to my study. I read his works and make annotations which are interwoven in my prayer journals. During the period of the case study, I recorded dates and specific readings from the works of Thomas Merton. Upon key passages, I reflected with prose, sketches, original poetry, and contemplative practices. The schedule for the case study often began at 5 A.M. I not only remained consistent with my routines at home but also served in a volunteer capacity in area communities to study civics, social, and community workshops on practical applications to apply my knowledge from contemplative study and to cultivate peace. Yet, moving forward with contemplative prayer as a daily devotion, twice a day or more, changed me. The case study results contain both a miraculous healing of my lumbar spine and growth in contemplative prayer to cultivate peace.

My case study may be helpful for creating new perspectives into opportunities for actions concerning faith, service, or contemplative life.