Category: Advent 2018 – Here and Now

Reading: Here and Now, Chapter I to Chapter IV (pages 15-83)

God became a little child in the midst of a violent world. Are we surprised
by joy or do we keep saying, “How nice and sweet, but the reality
is different.” What if the child reveals to us what is really real?
Here and Now, Surprised by Joy (p. 37)

It was so wonderful to see all your introductions last week. A spirit-filled, diverse, and committed global community is forming to read and discuss Henri Nouwen’s meditations on living a spiritual life.  Henri has much to show us and we have much to share with each other as we journey through Advent together.

Today is the first day of Advent and Henri, like many other Christians, would have recognized it as the first day of the new church year. It is fitting that our Advent book discussion begins with Henri writing, “A new beginning! We must learn to live each day, each hour, yes each minute, as a new beginning to make everything new.” Henri is inviting us to use this Advent season to make a new beginning in our own spiritual lives. For Henri, and indeed for all Christians, our spiritual life begins with the truth of the Incarnation (see quote above).  Henri writes, “My name is God-with-you.” (p. 17).  The baby Jesus reveals to us what is really real.

With Henri as our faithful guide, in the coming weeks we will explore nine elements or themes of the spiritual life. We start this week by learning to live in the present, seeking joy, embracing suffering, and choosing conversion.  These four chapters include 33 individual meditations that are rather easy to read (at least at first glance) yet are rich in meaning and worthy of thoughtful reflection. We look forward to learning how these chapters and meditations are meaningful in your life.

Here is a process that you might find helpful as you explore the readings.

1. Concentrate on one chapter per day or between seven and nine brief meditations
2. Read all of the meditations in the selected chapter in the order presented to gain insight into Henri’s approach to this element of the spiritual life.
3. Select a few (perhaps 2 or 3) of the meditations that stand out to you, and read them thoroughly, perhaps several times and reflect on what they are saying. Consider:
   1. The thought or concept that stands out to you
   2. How does it relate to your personal experience? Look at your experience with the benefit of Henri’s insight.  Does that help you to see things differently or to know yourself better?
   3. What is God speaking to your heart?  Henri turned to scripture daily and that is reflected in many of these meditations.  You might find it fruitful  to seek out  the Scriptural truths that Henri mentions or that God is speaking to your heart.
   4. How you will respond? Carefully (prayerfully) consider how your heart responds to the insights gained during your reflection. Are there small steps you can take to incorporate these insights and to apply this element to strengthen your spiritual life?
   5. Pray!
   6. You might also consider the questions in the Guide for Reflection (p. 203)
4. Move on to another chapter.

Please share with the group the insights you have gained to the degree you are comfortable.  This is an opportunity to share and discuss what came up for you in the readings.  You may choose to share your reflections based on the questions above, but please don’t feel bound to them.  Perhaps you’ll want to share from your own journey of discernment.

You are welcome and encouraged to comment as frequently as you like.  If you would like to post your thoughts after each chapter, that would be wonderful.  If you would prefer to post a comment weekly, that is also fine.  You can also respond to the comments of others.   And if you choose to follow along silently, you are welcome here too.

Once again, thank you for joining us for this Advent journey. We’re glad you’re here and we look forward to hearing from you.

Peace and all good.
Ray

P.S.  Veterans of earlier discussions may wonder why Ray is flying solo this time, without  long-time co-moderator Brynn Lawrence. Brynn gave birth to her second child, a beautiful baby girl, in October. Brynn, baby, and family are doing wonderfully. Brynn sends you all warm wishes for a blessed Advent.

“I hope and pray that you who read these meditations will discover
many connections with your own spiritual journey…”
Henri Nouwen
Here and Now, Preface

Reading:  Preface

A warm welcome to each of you at this very special time of year. As always, a beautiful community of people will gather together—old friends returning for another fruitful discussion and new friends joining us for the first time.  We’re glad you’ve decided to journey through Advent with us. We’ll have a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect and grow during this time.

This Advent we’re reading and discussing Henri’s Here and Now, Living in the Spirit. In the Preface Henri says he, “didn’t try to write a new book, but to meditate on life as I am trying to live it.”  Nouwen archivist and editor Gabrielle Earnshaw writes, “Here and Now is Henri Nouwen’s statement of faith. It covers almost everything he ever thought and experienced about the Christian spiritual life.”

Henri’s meditations may be more relevant now than when they were first published in 1994. Today our society is busier, noisier, more competitive, and less personal than it was then, making it more urgent that we choose to slow down, to reflect, and to find the peace that only the Lord can give by living in the present and in the spirit. This Advent, with Henri as our guide, we will seek to do just that.

But before we get started, let’s briefly describe how the discussion works. If you’ve joined us before, this will serve as review:

Each Sunday you will discover a new “post,” indicated by the bold title, on the blog’s Home page.  Click on the title to enter the post.  There you will find the week’s readings and some questions for discussion.  To leave a comment scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will find the “leave a reply” box.  It works best if you always add any new comment to the newest post, even if you are referring to an earlier post. That way, everyone will see your comment. After you submit a comment, either Ray as moderator or Will at the Nouwen Society need to “approve” it, so it may take a few hours before it actually appears on the blog page.  The instructions on how to submit and reply to comments are also included at the bottom of the reading schedule. If you have any questions about the blog,  please feel free to ask.  To ask a question you can submit a comment or send Ray an email at the address in his bio below.

As we begin our journey together, it’s always nice to learn a little bit about each of you. Over the next few days you are invited to introduce yourself. You may choose to share:

a) Your general geographic location
b) To whom or what you dedicate your days or energy, and why
c) How you came to “know/read” Henri Nouwen and whether or not you participated in a previous discussion.
d) Insights, thoughts or questions that arose as you read the Preface.
e) What you hope to experience during this discussion

I’m very much look forward to hearing from each of you!

Our discussion starts in earnest this Sunday, December 2nd!

In gratitude,

Ray

RAY GLENNON: Ray volunteers in his parish Confirmation program and other ministries. He and his wife are members of a Catholic charismatic community and they are in formation for the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS).  Ray came to know and trust Henri’s written word in a special way in 2004 when he found The Return of the Prodigal Son for sale after Mass at the cathedral in Singapore at an important point in his life.  You may contact Ray at ray.glennon@1972.usna.com.   You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/@RayGlennon.

Please plan to join us this Advent season as we delve into and discuss Henri Nouwen’s Here and Now: Living in the Spirit.

As with all of Henri’s work, Here and Now penetrates the profound and important issues of living a spiritual life and examines them in a gentle, insightful, and relatable manner.

The book reads like a devotional. Concise, pertinent entries make it a perfect choice for thoughtful discussion and contemplative reflection on topics such as living in the present, prayer, relationships, joy, family, forgiveness, and death. (If you are fearful about death, this book provides comforting thoughts and wisdom about life’s ultimate mystery.)

Join us on Wednesday, November 28^th for greetings and introductions. Then beginning on Sunday, December 2^nd, we’ll journey together through Advent reading and sharing insights on this inspirational and life-changing book.

Moderated by Ray Glennon, the Advent online book discussion is a wonderful way to enhance your Christmas preparations and make this Advent particularly special and memorable.

We do hope you will join us. The reading schedule is posted and can be viewed by clicking on the Reading Schedule tab in the menu bar above.

Need a copy of the book? It is available at many bookstores, or you can order it online through the Bookstore tab in the menu bar above.