Metanoia and Thomas Merton

Most children growing up hear the old wisdom “You can’t run from your problems.” Thomas Merton wrote in his Seven Storey Mountain about this for generations who have chosen to forget. The new wisdom from Merton is quoted saying “The one who does most to avoid suffering is, in the end, the one who suffers most…” Merton suggests that the more people run from their sufferings and avoid them, the more the small and insignificant begins to torture them. The final stage of this becomes an existence that is itself an intense source of pain and suffering.
This final point of suffering is where the concept of metanoia begins. Metanoia is a term that ultimately describes a choice. There comes a point; brought on by tragedy, suffering, a chaotic event, emotional upheaval, a gradual decline, or other sources; where a person stands at a crossroads. One path is simply a cliff overlooking a precipice and the other is a path going a completely opposite way. The choice is either new life or death. While it may seem a simple one, it is not that easy, many people will choose self destruction. If a person chooses metanoia it requires a complete overhaul of the person’s being and a redefinition of self, a rebuilding of all desires, viewpoints, and beliefs.
But how does one fall to this point, careening that out of control that they can no longer survive walking their chosen road? Merton hits the nail on the head. I have previously written that the human existence is defined by an innate longing for wholeness, and the suffering that comes with not being able to achieve the peace and wholeness we are meant for. While metanoia is also applicable to those who have strong religious beliefs, and does occur, my personal experience and therefore strongest vantage point comes from a secular experience. Thomas Merton talks of people trying to avoid suffering, and the pain that it causes. I fully agree with his assessment of human experience. In the search for fulfillment, many (including me) have turned to anything and everything to avoid what we perceive as pain and obstacles to our happiness. In choosing the paths of least resistance in relationships and responsibilities, people may seek to stave off the true feelings of helplessness and aloneness that every person has encountered. Engaging in a constant slew of diversionary tactics such as drinking, drug use, sex, work, and a plethora of other things helps to hold off the suffering, running from the truth of what we were created for.
These people suffer the most, because part of the truth of life is that we need to embrace our suffering and build ourselves through it. We will always have our proverbial crosses to bear and if we don’t face them and carry them we cannot grow. The more we choose to carry the burden, the lighter the loads become as we grow in spiritual strength. The more we eschew our sufferings and run from our suffering that life presents us with, the heavier and harder the menial tasks become, until the mere act of living day to day becomes an unbearable burden. Merton understood from experience the truth of this, and he warned the next people who sought to climb the mountain.
Metanoia holds a special place in my life, and Merton’s quote holds very true for me. I’ve been to the metanoia point, through total fault of my own and unwillingness to grow in the way I was meant for. I’ve given testimony talks and talked of this concept of embracing the sufferings and deciding to stop running from the life I was meant to live and the hope and peace that comes with keeping the small truly small. Merton found his new life and new hope from the floor of pubs, his metanoia point. Merton chose to have new life, he chose to cherish his existence and to let go of the constant fear of the trivial and hopelessness of life on the lam from peace.