MERTON THE FRIENDLY GHOST

MERTON THE FRIENDLY GHOST

Merton, in his usual transparent way, posts a very honest and self-revelatory letter to a friend.  During the course of this letter, he addresses some of her questions, thoughts, comments, etc., and discusses: life, society, person-hood, writing, artists, death, hermitude, etc., and puts forth a new, descriptive metaphor for himself.  You have heard many times "Merton the Art Hermit."  Now, we have "Merton the Friendly Ghost."  (Don't worry, he's not going anywhere!  Wink.)

Oh, and here is a great Tori Amos song, which sorta fits this deviation:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNBXQF…

-Merton

_____________________

Hi there, my dear friend

Thank you for your thoughtful and interesting note.

I get scared easily too, though I love paranormal, ghost-ish stuff! Gads. Silly me. I am such a tidal person... I cast myself into things, then pull back all the time. I will watch a bunch of ghostly, paranormal stuff, then get all freaked out and think, "I cannot watch that anymore!"

I am very drawn to prophetic, apocalyptic stuff, will investigate it, find it fascinating, etc.  Then it will upset me, and I think, "That's silly, fear-based and ridiculous," and I pull away from it.

I am very affected by things too. I'm very sensitive, very prone to nervousness, very creative, capable of being a valued member of society, workplaces, organizations, etc.  But I am way too sensitive and easily upset by the unpredictability, meanness, politics, and general stress of such places, positions, situations.  And, this has gotten worse and worse, to the point where I really just need to be an art hermit, see a few students every day, create at home, etc., as you know.  

I am sort of a ghost already, really.  I am transparent like a ghost, am seen by few, wander about my residence when no once else is home, etc.  But I am rather like a famous ghost known as Casper, in that I am a quite friendly and sympathetic ghost, charming, even, I hope!  Wink.

I think maybe that is ok. I did my time in the world and its structures. Everyone is different. And not everyone is even required to "do their time in the world." The world is crazy, and not everyone is meant for it. I am not sure anyone is meant for the world as it currently is.

The world needs to change. I think society is coming to this conclusion. I hope that society does something about the world before it is too late (i.e. pollution, global warming, alienation of mankind from himself/God/the earth, stress, hierarchies, bee-hive workplaces, shallowness, callousness, cruelty, wars, the dying off of species/habitats, etc., etc., etc.)

In regards to my writing of stories:  I wrote most of my fiction 7-10 years ago, so I have gone through a lot since then, much of which you have read about in my journals, essays etc.

I meant the story you asked about (and many of my stories) to have real life elements that people would recognize and identify with (and be able to take into their real, everyday lives) but on the whole they are rather metaphoric and fable-like.

I am guilty of being a bit programmatic with my writing, and tend to tell instead of show, sometimes (which, as I understand it, is not what you are supposed to do as a writer!)... but there we have it. I am philosophical, teacher-ish, etc., by nature, and I hope that since my stories/writings tend to be rather fable-ish that this is OK (and that the stories have a certain charm which makes up for this).

In regards to death:  I am very affected, concerned about, curious about death, too.  I am very affected by it.  As you may know, I lost my mother to cancer when I was ten, my uncle hung himself in the family basement when I was a child, my grandpa went home to live with his mother in his fifties and died there shortly after.  These have been in the background elements of my life.  

When my friend died of Alzheimer's recently, it really affected me. So did his partner's fixation with all this 2012 apocalyptic stuff (which I was sucked into again, after having been very interested in prophecy 15-20 years ago, when I wanted to be a priest).

I think about death all the time, know that I am afraid of going to hell (even though I do not intellectually believe in it), etc. I think about, as I have mentioned, what I might do if I were a ghost. I hope that God is love, plain and simple, that all people (no matter how mean or misguided on earth) go to heaven. I try not to judge others and pray for myself and others every day.

I am glad that you have a wonderful boyfriend, and am sorry to hear that he is ill. I would say, though, that none of us knows how much time we have (though I know this does not really make it any easier for you to deal with this).

Our doggie is sixteen, has many needs, and as I serve as his medical staff all day long, I worry, worry, worry. I worry that my hubby works too hard, worry about his health etc., and I pray for the health and safety of our little family all the time.

Though I try to be a positive thinker, being the child of a child of an alcoholic, and a gay boy who always feels he will go to hell for being gay (though I know how silly this sounds) I am very fear based. Just being honest here. Add in trouble with nerves, artist personality, troubled but very nice families on both sides, and you have me.

So I understand many of your issues.

As for resources for caring for your boyfriend, I would suggest studying Elizabeth Kubler Ross, NDE phenomenon, etc., in general, plus writing about your feelings, and seeing a therapist, life coach, spiritual counselor etc., if you think that that would help.

In response to your thank you, You are most welcome!  I always enjoy you. Remember you are great just as you are, and that it is the world that is silly, crazy, etc., not you.

Peace to my friend,
Michael