Beneath the Mask of Holiness: Thomas Merton and the Forbidden Love Affair That Set Him Free: Spiritual writer Thomas Merton is the most influential American Catholic author of the twentieth century, one whose books sold more copies than Hemingway, Kerouac, or Fitzgerald. Despite Joan Baez calling Merton "a true man with the lightness like the Dalai Lama," and Ann Lamott saying "Merton was a source of light and comfort and humor [for me]," an unknown, dark side existed in his life since he had never known the true meaning of love. Only when the suffering Merton fell madly in love with a student nurse, a forbidden, erotic affair condemned by the Catholic Church, would he discover whether his devotion to God was stronger than his dedication to the woman he called "a miracle in my life." Truly an inspirational story based on Merton's personal journals, Beneath the Mask of Holiness presents a unique portrayal of the famous monk, one never revealed in its entirety before.
Thomas Merton: The Inspirational Saving Grace: Through a bizarre incident as unlikely as a July snowfall in Texas, Mark Shaw’s world fell apart less than six years ago. After being a noted author and television personality with a blessed family life, he lost everything including his reputation and the family he loved while experiencing horrendous financial difficulties. Confused and wondering why his world has fallen apart, he blamed everyone but himself.
To return toward some sense of sanity, Mark began with two books, the Bible and Pastor Rick Warren’s bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life. James and Job became best friends and he began to understand the phrase, “It’s not about you.” After spending time in Aspen, Colorado clearing his mind, he decided to turn his life around and entered San Francisco Theological Seminary. At SFTS, he was introduced to spiritual writer Thomas Merton, and the wise sage’s views on the contemplative life immediately resonated causing drastic changes in Mark’s lifestyle. Relevant passages from such Merton books as New Seeds of Contemplation, Wisdom of the Desert, and No Man Is An Island provided the spiritual foundation Mark needed.
Curious about Merton having fallen in love late in life, Mark began to research the gifted wordsmith’s monastic journey and learned of his unknown torment and suffering since he did not know the true meaning of loving and being loved. Writing Beneath the Mask of Holiness was the result, but the book meant much more to Mark since he learned that love truly leads to the freedom we all covet in our lives. As Merton writes, “Love is our destiny,” a phrase summing up the priest’s influence on Mark as a saving grace.
From Anger to Inspiration: How I Survived War with Coaching Legend Bobby Knight and Became a Decent Human Being: When Mark Shaw’s stepson Kent arrived at Indiana University’s Assembly Hall to pick up football tickets in 2000, little did he know that he would change his stepfather’s life forever. As legendary coach Bobby Knight walked by, Kent nonchalantly asked, “What’s up Knight?” Filled with anger based on IU’s “no-tolerance” policy after several coaching infractions had embarrassed the university, Knight grabbed Kent’s arm and lectured him on manners.
The result of the confrontation was nothing short of war between the fiery coach and Mark, whose strong, controversial remarks about the coach’s behavior on a local radio program Mark hosted infuriated Knight and his loyal band of followers. Soon after reporting the incident, hate mails and death threats began, and soon Mark became what Knight referred to as the “evil stepfather.” When the bombastic coach was fired, an event covered by the international media, Kent’s image was hung in effigy, and Mark was forced to require state police protection.
Until now, little has been known about the “inside story” of the “Knightmare” from Mark’s point of view. But the incident was the trigger-point for a downward spiral in his life, one resulting in the loss of his reputation as a noted author and television personality. He also lost the trust so important to a marriage resulting in divorce and loss of contact with his step-children. When the smoke cleared, Mark, who had turned into a “me” person, was bewildered and confused with no real idea as to where his life was headed. This is when Bible passages in the book of Job and Pastor Rick Warren’s bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life turned Mark toward a new life in Aspen, Colorado and eventually to the doors of San Francisco Theological Seminary as a sixty-year-old student. There, the wise teachings of spiritual guru Thomas Merton greeted him and soon Mark was a true “Mertonist” in every sense of the word as books such as New Seeds of Contemplation, Wisdom of the Desert, and No Man Is An Island became daily inspirational reading. Through them and the enlightenment provided by Mark’s new wife, Wen-ying Lu, he discovered a freedom through love never experienced before. In many ways, Mark’s quest for his freedom paralleled Merton’s, and Beneath the Mask of Holiness was a natural progression toward Mark’s growing from an angry, confrontational, controversial man into a decent human being truly Christlike in nature.