Type of bind: Paperback
EAN num: 9780006256656
Format: Import
ISBN number: 0006256651
Label: Collins Fount
Manufacturer: Collins Fount
Page Count: 153
Printing Date: 1980
Publishing house: Collins Fount
Sale Popularity Level: 2289314
Studio: Collins Fount
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Someone once quipped that Henri Nouwen was such a gifted writer that anything he scribbled out even on a discarded bus ticket deserved to get published! Having read many of his published works, I would nod heartily at that hyperbolic statement! There is in Nouwen's simple and beautiful literary expressions a profound grasp of life in the Spirit with all its odd tensions and paradoxes. This shows in the schema he uses in this book which sees the progress in the spiritual life not so much as a ladder one climbs unabated to the end goal (visio dei!) that traditional authors deigned to employ. It is more like the polarity that one shuttles back and forth between the Spirit and the flesh (in the language of St Paul). But here he creatively uses the idea of "Reaching Out'- to self, to others and to God. In these three movements of outreach, one finds himself experiencing the deepening of the life of faith when he moves from the false self of loneliness to the true self of solitude, from hostility towards others to hospitality and finally from the illusions of hubris to prayer.
These concepts are not new but Nouwen has a refreshing way of weaving together the ancient Scriptures and the time-tested wisdom of the spiritual fathers and mothers with the modern struggles of contemporary men as well as his own existential issues. He writes in such a way that those with eyes to see could recognize the images and stirrings of their own hearts in them and perhaps discover for themselves the way out of the maze one often finds himself. I particularly love the way he retells the ancient stories of the Zen masters as well as the Eastern Orthodox teachers. No one tells them like he does within the larger reflections of what it means to live the spiritual life ie. 'to live a life in the Spirit of Jesus Christ'. In this he shows his ecumenical spirit and his clear discernment of truths within the diversity of faith traditions, while remaining deeply anchored in the gospel.
One small complaint that some readers make of Nouwen is that his prolific writings often lack the systematic character that would have helped believers construct a more comprehensive and well thought out understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. I think this critique has some merits because many of his writings are done in the forms of letters (You are my Beloved), spiritual journals (Genesee Diary), case studies (Wounded Healer) and biographical reflections (Adam) which carry a plethora of gems here and there, which some feel need to be pieced together into a crystal glass! Then again, perhaps these genres are a more accurate reflection of life itself with all its messy bits and mysteries that do not yield to neat systematization. Having said that, if anyone must have a book that sets out the thoughts of Nouwen in his systematic best, this might well be the book he is looking for as Nouwen answers in three movements the book's central thesis: 'What does it mean to live in the Spirit of Jesus Christ?'. Savour this book slowly and meditatively and be nourished by this deep well of inspiring truths that move the heart as well as the mind.
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Nouween explains there are three transition states of spirituality comprised of the following:
1.) From loneliness to solitude,
2.) From hostility to hospitality, and
3.) From illusion to prayer.
The book itself is refreshing in the sense human loneliness is taken to its bottom components leading to the acceptance of solitude. By seeking out others for console people do not directly deal with hurt themselves or seek prayer in God.
"Often we go to good men and women with our problems in the secret hope that they will take our burden away from us and free us from our loneliness," (Nouwen, 35).
Overall, according to Nouwen, we seek attention and connection unfulfilled in social situations influenced by culture, however, Nouwen expresses loneliness as a normal encounter. By dwelling in solitude we are able to understand our loneliness as a component of understanding our inner-self. Secondly Nouwen expresses how hostility interferes with our ability to truly be hospitable, "When we have become sensitive to the painful contours of our hostility we can start identifying the lines of its opposite toward which we are called to move: hospitality," (Nouwen, 71).
Interestingly Nouwen expresses true hospitality as the ability to give people options rather than limitations. Instead of cornering a stranger- giving the ability of freedom and befriending a person with no ulterior motives is truly warranted of the title of hospitality in its various forms.
Accordingly by not keeping in touch with prayer we loose what we have worked hard to grow, (Nouwen, 116), by creating an illusion of our own mortality and meaning. Nouwen says sentiment can manifest false expectations however I must question whether it is really a technique of human comfort. As there are many ways to be hospitable there are as many ways to pray. Sometimes it is necessary to realize the variations of how to pray in order to pray with heart.
Although Nouwen explains how spirituality changes through steps it is necessary to recognize the importance of desperation. About a year and a half ago I suffered an unusual injury to my knee, I injured the saphenous nerve and had a 30 percent muscle loss within 6 weeks, not only that I also suffered from problematic gait and knee tracking problems. It wasn't until I reached out to God after five chemical nerve blocks that I decided to go for one alternative medical procedure, a heat treated nerve block where burning the myelin sheath prevents pain signals from traveling to the brain. I questioned what God wanted from me, and what he wanted me to learn from this experience, and whether I should put myself under another painful procedure. I was at the end of understanding as it had affected every aspect of my life including the ability to even grocery shop on my own. Up until then I had never experienced a situation where I felt I had no control. At the bottom of feeling desperate my only choice was to reach out to God for help, as difficult as that was he answered my prayers as simple as that. I virtually had no pain with the last procedure as I am now working on building muscle. At that moment I did feel lonely, hostility, and had the illusion modern medical science was all I needed. "Being the expression of our greatest love, it does not keep pain away from us (Nouwen,107)."
Until then I believed I was spiritual however the experience alone not only strengthened my spirituality but also understanding of God and of people in debilitating situations.
As Nouwen believes solitude is necessary: Is there such a thing as too much solitary? At what point do people cross into the understanding solitude can produce positive results? With that in mind, is solitude too much to handle for some people? Nouwen makes a good point that interaction with God and the Holy Spirit opens paths of understanding the self. I found the book enlightening in opening my eyes to themes around me and those used to control.
As Nouwen questions the legitimacy of prayer in forms of illusion I do not think prayer is ever meant to portray illusions of grandour, immortality, or selfishness but rather many pray for positive meaning in themselves and others. I can understand if Nouwen's point referred to non-Christians and Christians alike letting prayer fall to the wayside of illusions however prayer itself is generally heartfelt.
This book aligned at the right time coming out of a personal crisis which allowed me to question my own meaning of spirituality and sanctity. It is interesting this book happened to be required when it did. It is inspiring to step back and look closer at the necessary steps to produce meaningful prayer and understanding. Going forward I will continue to question myself and my ability to counsel effectively and will continue to give up my ... Read More
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I've been reading Henri Nouwen's Reaching Out over the last week or so and it's been impacting me deeply.
I feel like I have been lonely for as long as I can remember. There have been moments thick with the physical presence of friends & family. And there were times where I managed to gain enough attention or popularity to almost muffle the pangs of isolation in my gut. I used to think of those "distracted" periods as high points - when I'd achieved the connectedness I craved. I'm realizing more and more that the times of greatest singular loneliness in life were also the times where God's hand pressed heaviest on my heart.
However, until Nouwen's Reaching Out, I don't think I have encountered any voice (pastor, friend or counselor) telling me that this aching was natural, necessary & right. I'm an American Evangelical! If something doesn't feel good, it must be wrong! Reaching Out has really begun to play a connecting role in matching my awareness of God's presence in the "dark" to Nouwen's assertion that loneliness is not only obligatory, but indispensable.
Nouwen says that without "solitude of the heart," we are not even capable of loving people in the way they deserve to be loved. After reading the very first three chapters I went & told my wife that I wanted to love her because she deserves my love - because she exists.
I confessed that most of my love for her is twisted & compromised of what I think I need from her, & what I want to get out of her. She said, "I think most of us love that way." I said, "But wouldn't it be incredible if we could let go of all that & love each other entirely for who the other is?" I was "lucky" enough to be unlucky in love till my twenties, so growing up I didn't have romance to hide in. Married now, I have quickly learned how to look to my wife to hide from myself, my loneliness, and God residing in the midst of that dreaded isolation.
Slowly, I'm trying to train myself to stop running from the loneliness. Inside the aching, the silence, the singular awareness of one's own disconnected (in some ways) reality, there is a voice of Truth who is whispering identity, purpose and love at the core of our being. I want to listen for that voice...
[...]
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I read 3 Nouwen books at once, and while all of them were excellent, "Reaching Out" was the best of 3 great books for spiritual reading.
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After doing 20 minutes of meditation our Centering Prayer group discusses a spiritual book. The group has found this book to be excellent and it provides a base for a lot of discussion
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