“I came into the world. Free by nature, in the image of God, I was nevertheless the prisoner of my own violence and my own selfishness, in the image of the world into which I was born. That world was the picture of Hell, full of men like myself, loving God, and yet hating him; born to love him, living instead in fear of hopeless self-contradictory hungers”

Thomas Merton

I had not seen this quote until Pope Francis included it in his speech to Congress yesterday. Regardless of religious belief, I think it’s easy to identify with the sentiment. As a parent, I see this play out in the lives of my girls daily.

In all things, trying to be intentional about choosing the better hungers is a noble aim. Thanks for the reminder, Pope.