Henri Nouwen
Henri Nouwen
Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen,was a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian. His interests were rooted primarily in psychology, pastoral ministry, spirituality, social justice and community. Over the course of his life, Nouwen was heavily influenced by the work of Anton Boisen, Thomas Merton, Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh and Jean Vanier...
NationalityDutch
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth24 January 1932
complaining whole-life interruptions
My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered that my interruptions were my work.
service-to-others wounds woundedness
The main question is not, how can we hide our wounds...but how can we put our woundedness in service to others.
moving-forward men space
One of the remarkable qualities of the story is that it creates space. We can dwell in a story, walk around, find our own place. The story confronts but does not oppress; the story inspires but does not manipulate. The story invites us to an encounter, a dialogue, a mutual sharing. As long as we have stories to tell to each other there is hope. As long as we can remind each other of the lives of men and women in whom the love of God becomes manifest, there is reason to move forward to new land in which new stories are hidden.
listening needs speech
To listen is very hard, because it asks of us so much interior stability that we no longer need to prove ourselves by speeches, arguments, statements or declarations. True listeners no longer have an inner need to make their presence known. They are free to receive, welcome, to accept.
unconditional-love son found
I am the prodigal son every time I search for unconditional love where it cannot be found.
grateful life-is property
Life is a gift to be grateful for and not a property to cling to.
godly getting-older growing
Is my growing old making me any closer to Christ? Am I only getting older or am I getting more godly?
who-we-are beloved moments
From the moment we claim the truth of being the beloved, we are faced with the call to become who we are.
grateful eye heart
I can choose to grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose to speak about goodness and beauty, even when my inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or something to call ugly.
thanksgiving gratitude discipline
The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.
tragedy who-we-are forget
One of the tragedies of our life is that we keep forgetting who we are
true-identity insecurity want
It is very hard to stay in touch with our true identity because those who want our money, our time, and our energy profit more from our insecurity and fears than from our inner freedom.
waiting periods
Waiting is a period of learning. The longer we wait, the more we hear about him for whom we are waiting.
hypocrisy community inability
I am learning that the best cure for hypocrisy is community. Hypocrisy is not so much the result of not living what I preach but much more of not confessing my inability to fully live up to my own words.