January 4,1980 Dear Mark Thank you for your letter of November (13 ?14?) . There was a delay in the distribution of incoming mail, but now, it seems, we will be getting it more regularly. I an sorry to read about what happened to your engine. The same thing happened to a roommate of mine at Princeton. With old cars, the first thing to go is often the oil pan, and, with it, the engine. You may have noticed how, whenever there is a loud bump on the bottom of the car, I always look back on the road to see it there is any oil leaking Your suggestion about deep breathing and bright colors is one that I had already been following. I am of a more active than contemplative disposition, and medication is not easy. But, driven to it, one can achieve a lot. I have, as of today, a New Testament, as well as Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ," which you should read. He has part of the mystical revival of the 14-15th Century, in the Netherlands and Rhine valley. The world, to him, is vain and useless, not a view I entirely agree with, bur a good departure point for a lot of speculation, I disagree only because what one does in life Shapes and molds one. Doing good things, to put in simply, is or much a part of one's spiritual development as is contemplation. Thomas a' Kempis would agree with this , too, up to a point. For example, "A good deed done without love goes for nothing, but if any thing is done from love, however small and inconsiderable it may be, every bit of it is counted. God considers what lies behind the deed, and not what is actually done. "And, further, A man does well, it he does the will of the Community, and hot his own will." But what is the will of the community? Is ii my employer ? If so, it has landed me in a most awkward predicament You asked it our hands were tied. They have been, at different times, but are not any more. Anyway, as Saint Paul reminds us, " His Word is hot bound." Our conditions one not bad. Plenty to eat, and tea to drink, Exercise is needed, but he learned today that a room is being readied for indoor exercise I gather that you have plenty of time on your hands, and I hope that you are making the best use possible of it. Write soon again, and all my love M