If I did not believe in God I think I would be bound in conscience to become an anarchist. Yet, if I did not believe in God, I wonder if I could have the consolation of being bound in conscience to do anything.
Thomas Merton, No Man is an Island, “Conscience, Freedom, and Prayer”
Conscience is the soul of freedom, it eyes, its energy, its life. Without conscience, freedom never knows what to do with itself. And a rational being who does not know what to do with [their self] finds the tedium of life unbearable. [They are] literally bored to death.
I’ve been stuck
Trying to find my voice
To hear it in the clamor of the others
Droning on about scandalous politics
Whining about the downfall of society
What people stoop to to pick up a buck
A pile of which will make them free
Free from something
I don’t know what
Not free from puzzling out
How to spend the next minute
I’ve been stuck
not wanting to say all that
Or just that
Because there is more to say
I know there is
If I can just listen for that voice
Still and small
Telling me to speak and act
Freely and truly
There it is
Could that be Conscience?
Grace and peace to you…
dw
Photo by dw
becoming flame 
2 replies on “The Soul of Freedom”
Beautiful. I, too, lose my voice and struggle to find it. Yet is what I find truly my voice? I like the suggestion that the voice within that gives the best direction to my freedom is that of conscience.
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Hi Bob, it’s good to hear from you – I’ve been wondering how you are doing.
I’m fascinated by what Merton has to say about conscience – it rings true to me.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts – I always enjoy reading them. Grace and peace to you…
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