Originally published in 1992 Here is a beautiful book, simply showing “the succession of steps taken by one woman in trying to draw closer to God with Merton’s help”. The ‘one woman’, Esther de Waal, has written extensively on Benedictine and other forms of spirituality. Her chapter of ‘Practical Notes’, headed ‘How do I use this time’, will be immensely helpful to anyone who is at all unfamiliar with a retreat. The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, was a renowned guide in prayer, “a true guide to the heart of God and the heart of this world”, as Henri Nouwen says in his foreword. That has to be a ‘winning team’! The book makes full use of Merton’s own words (plus several of the Psalms from the Bible), and also – equally important - his incredibly evocative, reflective black and white photographs of commonplace scenes and objects, making us aware of the presence of God in things we might otherwise pass by without noticing. De Waal herself has devised the pattern of the retreat, taking us through the Call and our Response, the importance of Solitude and Listening and Encounter with Christ, to the demands of Love and awareness of the material world. She ends the retreat with the invitation to join in what Merton called ‘the general Dance’, in harmony with the whole universe, with my fellow human beings, with the totality of all creation. I believe there’s so much to gain from using this book. Don’t rush it. Allow it time. Read it thoughtfully and slowly. Pause and reflect whenever you feel led to. Saturate the whole experience in prayer, and let it become a prayer.