I have been reading a little about Thomas Merton, actually it is James Finley's classic book, Merton's Place of Nowhere. In it Finley describes Merton's conept of the true and the False Self. As I reflected on this idea of two (or more) selves, I began to wonder if the True Self is set, determined, fixed. Is there a certain "self" that I should be, a predetermined identity? Or do I create my "self" freely (not totally freely, but within the constraints of what is possible, and more or less likely)?
There are implications for conversion in this consideration. If I am to turn back to God, it may not involve turning back to a former self, or even to a predetemined version of my self that I have not yet achieved. But perhaps conversion is about co-creating the self with God, without either of us having a predetermined notion of what that is.
If conversion is "turning around" is it necessarily "turning back?" As in turning back to a plan (God's presumably) that I abandoned through sin. Or is it a "turning toward" something predetermined? Or is it a turning toward a possibilitiy or possibilities for the self I could become?
I apologize for not having this so clearly mapped out for your consideration. I hope you who read this will comment and we can dialogue. And in dialoguing, perhaps we come to know Christ better than before (and ourselves as well) which is the point of this blog any way.
Peace, and a Blessed Lent.
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