Читать книгу A Spirituality of Living - Henri J. M. Nouwen - Страница 4

This book is coherent, compelling, and contains one of the most important teachings that Henri Nouwen ever gave. It is the fruit of Henri Nouwen’s life as an academic, his deep engagement in the lives of countless people, his capacity for self-reflection, and his grounding in the life, spirit, and teaching of Jesus. It is not voluminous. While it probably did not take Henri a long time to write this text, it is the life wisdom of one of the spiritual masters of our time.

Each of us longs to live well, to experience love and belonging, to be connected to family and friends, and to make our unique contribution to others. But what path shall we take? What will lead us to the fulfillment of our deepest longings? In short, how shall we live? Henri offers us a spirituality that addresses these questions—a spirituality for living, a spirituality that has the potential to transform our lives.

I met Henri Nouwen in 1984 at Jean Vanier’s L’Arche community in Trosly-Breuil, France. Henri was on a sabbatical from Harvard University, living in L’Arche, and I was a worker-assistant in the same community. We began a friendship that deepened over the next decade as we both assumed leadership within L’Arche.

I knew, of course, that Henri was a teacher and a writer; he had degrees in psychology and theology and had positions at prestigious universities. But I discovered that he was also a lifelong student of himself and others. Our personal friendship and work in the context of L’Arche gave me an unexpected glimpse into Henri’s own exploration of life’s most important questions. And I was an eyewitness to his deep listening to others—people from all walks of life, of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, both the weak and the strong.

Henri accompanied people who were falling in love and those who were grieving the loss of a failed relationship. He came close to and sat with people who were dying. He joyfully joined in the private and public celebrations of new birth. Henri listened deeply to people who were social justice activists and also to others who felt drawn to a more inner, contemplative way of living. Henri walked with people who were depressed and suicidal as well as those who were at the prime of their personal creativity. He was friends with people who had enormous wealth and those whose only wealth was the largesse of their hearts.

Through all of this Henri came to know the contours of the human heart.

Like others before him, Henri believed that our journey to become more fully human is a spiritual journey that begins and ends in the heart of God. And as a spiritual cartographer, he mapped out a path that we can follow.

In the following pages, Henri invites us to think about our lives in terms of three interconnected “moments” that he sees modeled in the life of Jesus: solitude, community, and compassionate service to others. It is through solitude and prayer that we can stay in touch with our truest identity as children of God. This leads us into relationships with others in community where we learn to celebrate and forgive. Then, it is these relationships that sustain us as we reach out to serve others through compassionate ministry.

Henri’s deepest longings were touched as he made the choice to enter into this cycle of solitude, community, and compassionate ministry. He offers this path to us, convinced that it will be fruitful for you and me.

Henri is a credible guide. He “walked the talk” of this spirituality throughout his life. He fought “demons” along his own journey and stood with others as they fought their demons. He learned not to be afraid of suffering—his own, that of others, or the suffering of the world.

Above all, Henri strove to live a faithful life. He wanted to be faithful to God, to his own unique gifts, to his community, and to the cry of suffering he heard all around him. His spiritual vision for living is grounded in his desire to live in the truth of his life. Is that not the aspiration of us all?

By entering into solitude, engaging others in relationship, and reaching into the suffering of the world with compassion, Henri found his truth. He also found a peace that passes understanding.

This book will guide us to that same place.

Nathan Ball

The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust