The seeds of this sublime life are planted in every
Christian at Baptism. But seeds must grow and develop
before you reap the harvest. There are thousands of
Christians walking about the face of the earth bearing in
their bodies the infinite God of whom they know practically
nothing. They are themselves children of God, and are not
aware of their identity. Instead of seeking to know
themselves and their true dignity, they struggle miserably
to impersonate the alienated characters whose “greatness”
rests on violence, craftiness, lust and greed. … God does
not manifest Himself to these souls because they do not seek
Him with any real desire. … But desire is the most
important thing in the contemplative life. Without desire
we will never receive the great gifts of God.

Thomas Merton, Inner Experience, unpublished MS., Abbey of Gethsemani, p. 35. Also found in What is Contemplation?, p. 16 & 23.

If there are many who fail to see their true identity as resting in God’s love for them, then there surely are those who fail to understand how this love plays out in the particularity of their own life. The first step, as Merton points out, is desire; without it nothing happens, with it, anything is possible.

If you don’t have it then the first step is to pray for the desire to desire your true identity. If you can see the need for this then God’s already answered your prayer!

http://monasticism.org/monk/category/monastic-life/vocation/