Silence, solitude, and simplicity are a satisfying threesome in my life. But in The Signs of Jonas Thomas Merton mentions “solitude, silence and unity,” replacing simplicity with unity. Hmm, I like the idea of unity, but it can’t replace simplicity. It doesn’t resonate the same way; in fact, it is jarring; it disrupts the harmony, and yes, the unity that my three provide.
To start with, I like the idea that the my three begin with the same letter. It satisfies my penchant for order, and more to the point, my need to be in control. The idea that unity begins with a vowel, and not the soft look and sound of the letter S changes my goal. It interrupts the flow of silence and solitude. It isn’t peaceful.
Unity implies action, mental activity, physical change. The end result of unity is simple--but arriving there is complex.
To start with, I like the idea that the my three begin with the same letter. It satisfies my penchant for order, and more to the point, my need to be in control. The idea that unity begins with a vowel, and not the soft look and sound of the letter S changes my goal. It interrupts the flow of silence and solitude. It isn’t peaceful.
Unity implies action, mental activity, physical change. The end result of unity is simple--but arriving there is complex.