From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V12 #451 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Saturday, May 25 2013 Volume 12 : Number 451 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [RS] Gethsemani Goodbye [Isabel Frey ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 12:50:57 -0400 From: Isabel Frey Subject: [RS] Gethsemani Goodbye I wasn't familiar with Merton and so I did a little research. I was struck by the brief affair he had with Margie Smith, a student nurse 26 years his junior. (Some say he was deeply in love but the affair was never consummated.) Could the song be drawing a parallel between Merton's affair vs. his public image, and the driver vs, his passenger? Perhaps some sort of betrayal, or not being the person the driver was expected to be? I also found this quote attributed to Merton interesting: "I am beginning to face some facts about myself. Yes, need for more of a life of prayer, greater fidelity, greater sincerity and simplicity in doing what God wants of me. Easy to say all that. It depends on getting rid of something very deep and very fundamental in myself. . . Continual, uninterrupted resentment. I resent and even hate Gethsemani. I fight against the place constantly. I do not openly allow myselfnot consciouslyto sin in this regard. But I am in the habit of letting my resentment find every possible outlet and it is such a habit. . . . I am not kidding about how deep it is. It is DEEP." "The friend you always needed would've kept our morning plan, but I drove us back to Louisville, and kissed Gethsemani goodbye." I can picture a husband and wife; the husband with a growing resentment towards his wife - perhaps for having to take care of her, having to drive her around and going where she wants to go - or just the resentment that comes with feeling trapped. In a fit of anger at being lost he just drives home - to hell with it. Goodbye and good riddance! He got angry and he went too far. In the end though he offers something of an apology, perhaps when it's too late. Isabel ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V12 #451 ************************************