This quote has spoken into my life here in the D.R. We can be very busy as teachers here. Many of us are teaching 4-5 different classes, with different curriculum for each. Lots of planning, and chances to overpopulate our lives with causes.
The quote is from a book of short thoughts, and journal entries by Thomas Merton.
Enjoy.
“Douglas Steere remarks very perceptively that there is a pervasive form of contemporary violence to which the idealist for peace by nonviolent methods most easily succumbs: activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence. More than that, it is cooperation in violence. The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace. It destroys his own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.”
hey keith, i came across this through luke's post, and found this so refreshing. i teach english at a christian academy in nicaragua, i'm finishing up my second year here. just wanted to say thanks for posting that and strength to you as you continue forward.
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