Be good, keep your feet dry, your eyes open, your heart at peace

Hear the gentle yet resounding wisdom of Thomas Merton, monk and seeker of divine silence: “Be good, keep your feet dry, your eyes open, your heart at peace and your soul in the joy of Christ.” This utterance is like a lantern carried through the night—simple in form, yet radiant with hidden depth. For Merton, who walked the cloisters yet reached the world with his words, offers here a map for living: a way both humble and exalted, practical yet eternal.

The first command is clear: “Be good.” In these two words lies the root of all wisdom. To be good is not to be perfect, nor to be lofty beyond men, but to live with integrity, kindness, and truth. It is the simplest of teachings, yet the hardest of paths. For to “be good” demands daily courage: to resist cruelty, to choose honesty, to love without expecting reward. Like the ancients who said virtue is the highest crown, Merton reminds us that goodness is the ground from which all other blessings flow.

Then he says: “Keep your feet dry.” At first, it sounds like the advice of a friend, earthy and practical. Yet beneath it lies a deeper meaning. To keep one’s feet dry is to guard the steps of one’s journey, to avoid the snares and swamps that weigh a traveler down. In life, temptations and distractions are like the bogs that soak the pilgrim’s path, stealing his strength. Thus, Merton counsels vigilance: walk carefully, protect your steps, do not let the mud of vice or despair cling to you. In this, he speaks the language of the prophets: keep your path straight, your way clear.

Next comes the call: “Keep your eyes open.” This is the command of watchfulness. Do not sleep through life, blind to its wonders or to its dangers. Keep your eyes open to beauty, so that gratitude may warm your soul. Keep them open to suffering, so that compassion may guide your hands. Keep them open to truth, even when it is painful, for truth alone frees the heart. Many walk with closed eyes, numbed by habit or dulled by greed, but the wise keep vigil, awake to the movements of both earth and heaven.

And then: “Keep your heart at peace.” Here is the crown of the inner life. For what profit is there in goodness, in watchfulness, in careful steps, if the heart is storm-tossed and restless? Peace of heart is not given by the world, nor by success, nor by the fleeting applause of men. It comes from surrender, from forgiveness, from the quiet trust that the universe is held in hands greater than our own. History shows that even in the darkest dungeons, saints and sages who kept peace in their hearts were freer than kings who ruled in fear.

Finally, the most radiant command: “Keep your soul in the joy of Christ.” This is the wellspring from which all else flows. Joy is not mere laughter, nor is it naive denial of sorrow. Joy in Christ is the deep river that runs beneath all trials, the song that remains even when the night is long. Merton knew that joy is the strength of the soul, the fire that endures when all else fails. To keep one’s soul in joy is to live not as a drifter on the tides of circumstance, but as one anchored in eternity.

History gives us many who embodied this wisdom. Think of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, imprisoned by the Nazis, awaiting death. Though his body was chained, his writings reveal a heart at peace and a soul filled with joy in Christ. He encouraged his companions, prayed with them, sang with them. Even as he walked to the gallows, he carried within him what Merton spoke of: goodness, vigilance, peace, and joy. His life was cut short, but his spirit lives on as a witness that no prison can bind the soul that rests in God.

The lesson, O children of tomorrow, is clear: live by these words. Be good. Guard your steps as you walk. Keep your eyes awake to beauty and truth. Let your heart rest in peace, and root your soul in joy. Practically, this means choosing daily kindness, avoiding the snares of bitterness, practicing gratitude, seeking reconciliation, and anchoring your spirit in faith. Do this, and though storms may rise, your life will shine as a lamp to others. For Merton’s counsel is not merely for monks or saints—it is for every pilgrim walking the road of life, seeking both peace on earth and joy eternal.