Category: Lent 2021 – Sabbatical Journey

Reading: January 13 to March 14, pages 87 to 126

I’ve come to see with a clarity I never had before that Adam was the living
Christ among us. Where else did we have to go to be with the man
of sorrow and the man of joy? Where else did we
have to look for the presence of God? p. 109

It has been another week of thoughtful, rich, and spirit-filled sharing. Thanks to everyone on our journey–those posting and those reading along. There were a number of wonderful comments posted on Saturday. If you have not read them, you are encouraged to do so by following the link in the Recent Posts section in the right hand column or by clicking here.

The central event in this two month period is the death of Henri’s beloved friend Adam Arnett of whom Henri writes, “Our relationship has had such a deep impact on my life journey.” (p. 107) We see Henri simultaneously grieving the loss of his dear friend and consoling the members of the community at Daybreak as their pastor. Henri’s journal reflections became the core of the book Adam: God’s Beloved that he began writing shortly after Adam’s death. Henri had the book outlined and largely written when he died unexpectedly seven months later. The book was finished by Sr. Sue Mosteller based on Henri’s notes.

Bracketing Adam’s death in mid-February were Henri’s 64th (and last) birthday on January 24th and his promising meeting with his new friend and potential editor Jim in early March about the Rodleigh’s and the writing of the “trapeze book.” About his birthday Henri wrote, “This was probably the most quiet birthday of my life. But I will always remember it as the most peaceful.” (p. 94) Jim challenged Henri to write the trapeze book saying, “Yes, it feels risky, and it is difficult, but you have no choice.” Jim said the book should be “About community in the most universal sense. Through the Rodleigh’s story you can express the longing of all people. . . It all has to do with community. And that’s your final subject.” (p. 122). The trapeze book remained unwritten at Henri’s death. Our reading this week also includes entries on Prague, Lent, and coping with depression.

Last week Beverly said that she found the suggested reflection process below to be helpful. Giving credit where it is due, this process is adapted from the one that former Henri Nouwen book discussion moderator Brynn Lawrence developed for use during the Advent 2015 discussion of Henri’s The Inner Voice of Love–the Winnipeg journal that he was working on during his sabbatical.

1. Select a few journal entries that stand out to you, and read them thoroughly, perhaps several times. In your careful reading and reflection, consider:
   1. The experience, thought, or concept that stands out to you
   2. How does it relates 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 through Henri’s experience and words? How have you been touched, inspired, challenged, and comforted on your spiritual journey.
   4. How you will respond?  Carefully (prayerfully) consider how your heart responds to the insights you gained. Are there small steps you can take to incorporate these insights and to move toward spiritual freedom in your life?  What changes will you make?
2. Please share your reflection and insights with the group to the degree you are comfortable.

There’s much to reflect on as we reach the midpoint of our Lenten journey. We look forward to hearing from many of you. Please share whatever is on your heart. Be blessed and be well.

May the Lord give you peace.
Ray

Reading: November 1 to January 12, pages 46 to 86

I filled my last museum notebook with (daily meditation) number 387. . .
Writing these reflections definitely strengthened my love for Jesus
and renewed my commitment to proclaim the unfathomable
mystery of God’s saving work. December 1, 1995, p. 60

The first week of Lent was indeed fruitful and filled with many wonderful and insightful comments and rich and affirming sharing among participants. A sincere thank you to all.

In reading Henri’s diary entries for this period surrounding the Christmas holiday, we get a sense of the frenetic pace of Henri’s life–even while on his writing sabbatical. Henri travels take him to Boston, Cancun, Mexico, Watertown, NY, Peapack, NJ, San Diego, New York City, Holland, and Germany. He is presenting workshops and talks, visiting with his many friends, and, perhaps most important, taking a vacation with his father in Germany and then celebrating his father’s 93rd birthday. Henri writes, “Thirty years ago the closeness that now exists between us was unthinkable.”

On December 1st Henri completed his manuscript for what became the Bread for the Journey – A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith. In this book Henri writes more directly than in many of his other works about Jesus as the center of our faith, about Word and Sacrament, and about the Church. In essence, while on his sabbatical and in what turned out to be the last year of his life, Henri wrote his final testament of faith and guide to living a spiritual life.

Continuing the approach suggested by Sr. Sue Mosteller, you are encourage to reflect with Henri, “on the meaning of a particular encounter, of the event in Scripture or the news, of the insights from a new book, or of the background shaping the concert or the artifact.” This process may help guide you.

1. Select a few journal entries that stand out to you, and read them thoroughly, perhaps several times. In your careful reading and reflection, consider:
   1. The experience, thought, or concept that stands out to you
   2. How does it relates 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 through Henri’s experience and words? How have you been touched, inspired, challenged, and comforted on your spiritual journey.
   4. How you will respond?  Carefully (prayerfully) consider how your heart responds to the insights you gained. Are there small steps you can take to incorporate these insights and to move toward spiritual freedom in your life?  What changes will you make?
2. Please share your reflection and insights with the group to the degree you are comfortable.

Finally, there were several entries that I found particularly meaty or challenging that I would call to your attention. I know I would personally be interested in your reflections and insights related to Henri’s ideas on any of the following topics: a) November 10th – Jesus and salvation; b) November 29th – Eternal death or hell; c) December 4th – A day well lived; d) December 24th – Where is God?; December 25th – Power and piety; January 6th – Henri and his father.

We have another rich week of sharing ahead of us and we look forward to hearing from many of you. And, of course, the items above are only a guide. We want to hear whatever touched your heart.

May the Lord give you peace.
Ray

Reading: September 2 to October 31, pages 3 to 45

I have always dreamt of a whole year. . . completely open to let something
radically new happen. But can I do it? Can I let go of all the things
that make me feel useful and significant?
September 2, 1995, p. 3

A warm welcome to everyone and thanks to the many people that introduced themselves. Thus far our virtual global community includes participants from across the USA and Canada, the UK, South Africa, and Indonesia. As we enter this second Lent during the COVID pandemic, I want to especially recognize the efforts and sacrifice of the healthcare and other essential workers that are joining us for this discussion. You have our deepest gratitude.

More so than some other books, each reader will be drawn to different entries in Sabbatical Journey based their life’s experiences or where they are in their spiritual journey. In the Foreward, Sr. Sue Mosteller suggests the approach we will take for our discussion. “This book begs to be read slowly, the reader paying attention to, and reflecting with Henri on the meaning of a particular encounter, of the event in Scripture or the news, of the insights from a new book, or of the background shaping the concert or the artifact. There is so much hidden depth and beauty here that the rapid, curious reader risks disappointment.”

Following Sr. Sue’s advice, rather than identifying particular thoughts or ideas that spoke to me and posing reflection questions to prompt your thinking as we done in recent discussions, I’d like to offer the following process that may guide your personal reflections and comments to the group.

1. Read through Henri’s daily entries in the suggested reading above to get an overall sense of what Henri was involved with at the time and the experiences and ideas that captured his interest. This might be considered the rapid reading that Sue cautions against.
2. Then select a few journal entries that stand out to you, and read them thoroughly, perhaps several times. In your careful reading and reflection, consider:
   1. The experience, thought, or concept that stands out to you
   2. How does it relates 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 through Henri’s experience and words? How have you been touched, inspired, challenged, and comforted on your spiritual journey.
   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 move toward spiritual freedom in your life? 
   5. Pray!
3. Finally, please share with the group to the degree you are comfortable.

Please don’t feel bound to this process. As always, you are free to share whatever comes up for you in the readings, something from your personal experience, or feedback prompted by the comments of others. The thoughts and insights shared by the participants provide the heartbeat for every Henri Nouwen book discussion and we look forward to hearing from many you. However, we also know that some participants choose to read and journey with us without commenting. We’re grateful that you’re here whether you comment or not.

May the Lord give you peace during this first week in Lent.
Ray