Reading: No new reading. Review and reflect across all four The Path of… essays
Friends, we are nearing the end of our challenging, inspirational, and spirit-filled summer journey together. Thanks to each of you for joining us along the way. Our community has been enriched by your presence and participation whether you posted comments or followed along silently.
This week we take a step back, as Henri said at the outset of the first essay, to look at our world, our lives, and the four paths from “…the spiritual distance of our faith…with the eyes of God.” (p 23) We will consider and reflect on all four readings. As always, please share whatever is on your mind and in your heart from any of the readings or sharing, any insights you gained during our time together, things you will take away and incorporate into your spiritual life, or in response to this post. To get us started, here are a few of my thoughts for your consideration followed by three reflection questions.
During our journey we have reflected on four seemingly dissimilar paths yet, from a distance, we can see that each path, if followed faithfully, is the way that will lead us home. We might find ourselves one one path under certain circumstances and a very different path when the circumstances change–either later in life or, sometimes, later that same day! Yet even as we change paths the home to which God is calling us remains the same. If that is true, there must be some features common to each path that allows seekers to continue to find the way.
Using Henri’s three-point approach, it seems to me that the common features can be summed up in these words: weakness, community, and Jesus. Throughout these essays Henri shows us how in our weakness we gain God’s strength and that by traveling these paths in community we strengthen each other by sharing our sorrows and joys. Most important, Henri shows us that Jesus walked these same paths and he is here to walk with us and guide us if we but choose to follow him. If we join with Jesus and each other on our life journey we will build the kingdom of God regardless of which path we are on at the time. Or in the words of St. Catherine of Siena, “All the way to heaven is heaven, because Jesus said, ‘I am the way.'”
Reflection Questions
1. What are the most 2-3 most significant ideas, images, quotations, questions, or sharings that you will take away from our discussion of Finding My Way Home?
2. Henri’s friend Sue Mosteller concludes her Introduction: “To read it is to experience what Henri would call, “finding home on the way home.” (p 15) How did reading and sharing this book help you to do just that?
3. In the final essay, Henri says, “Fruitfulness in the spiritual life is about love, and this fruitfulness is very different from success or productivity.” What have you learned that will help you live a more fruitful life on whatever path you find yourself?
A Fond Farewell
Finally, as we are concluding our summer book discussion, Maureen Wright is concluding her many years of dedicated service to the Henri Nouwen Society. She is embarking on the next phase of her journey serving the Lord by assisting seniors to remain in their own homes. On behalf of all who have participated in these discussions over the years, I want to thank Maureen for her commitment, dedication, and support to those that have gathered to read and share Henri’s books and have been enriched as a result. Thanks and Godspeed Maureen! You will be missed, but not forgotten.
I’m looking forward to another fruitful week of sharing and I hope that many of you will join us later this year for our Advent book discussion.
May the Lord give you peace and walk with you as you find your way home.
Ray
I reread the last chapter. “God loved you before you were born, and God will love you after you die. In Scripture God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. This is a very fundamental truth of your identity. This is who you are whether you feel it or not. You belong to God from eternity to eternity. Life is just a little opportunity for you during a few years to say, “I love you, too.” The reason I like even love Henri Nouwen so much is that he writes stuff like this. In my own life, I have heard so many people say, when they see someone who is in a very vulnerable state, “If I ever get like that, just push me over a cliff or something.” We all have a tremendous opportunity to see our own lives and deaths to see the whole thing saying to God “I love you, too.” and somehow need to witness to others that their love for God, in life and vulnerability and in death for Him, to leave us the precious memories of why and how and the choices they made too have been worthwhile. I’m always grateful for the strengthening–over and over–because need it over and over–each time I face being with someone in the vulnerable life they are living–I need to be in the company again and again of people who have this particular take on the spirituality and even holiness of vulnerability. A lot of our culture and society doesn’t. Much appreciation for reading this book with all of you and my prayers and thoughts are with all of you in the vulnerabilities you are living with God through. Also looking forward to the Advent book selection.
I would usually post early in the week, but have had to ponder what to say this last week. And suddenly the week is almost over! I have really enjoyed this Henri Nouwen book and all of the comments, as well as the opportunity to comment myself. I really appreciated Cel’s comments this week. Cel commented on Henri Nouwen’s writings and mentioned that “[t]he new slant illuminates attitudes and actions and either affirms the direction I have (sometimes unknowingly) been growing, or challenges me to think again and usually enlarge my whole approach.” Cel’s feelings on the writings of Henri Nouwen mirror my own. I think that is why I like to have some of his books readily available. Sometimes I just need to thumb through a book or two of his, and I get both illuminated and refocused.
With reading Henri Nouwen, I always try to step back and look at the big picture, tying his writings into something personal to me, trying to synthesize if you will his ideas and concepts with my own experience. I think from these readings I take away the importance of living out each and every moment in a fashion pleasing to God, in conformance with what Jesus taught us on how to live while on this Earth. Our time here is very short. God places us here for a reason. The reason transcends our existence on this planet. I once saw an interview with Henri Nouwen. He mentioned that God places us here for only a very short time, maybe 20, 30, 40 years, and that He places us here for only one reason, and that is to say “I love you” (to Him). Of course, the trick is to figure out how to do that, and that could be an entirely different topic. In any event, our time here is short, especially in light of eternity. I probably am not saying this very well. I am still thinking it through. As much as the process of dying and death scares me, I know it is inevitable, and what I learn from Henri Nouwen is that it is necessary, that without death, we do not go home, we do not move towards God, and find rest in him for eternity. I am reminded of St. Augustine’s comments that our hearts are restless until they find rest in God. Only then will we find true peace. It is our job while on the Earth for this short time to do all we can to prepare and be ready for that time.
Thanks to everyone for the great comments. You have all made me think about things a bit differently, and have often illuminated certain topics and concepts. Take care.
I’m not going to even pretend that I read over the book before posting. I finished all my Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer treatment and I am now healing and getting ready to go back to the “home” of my outside job. It’s all a little mind boggling but hopefully if I can apply some of the concepts from the book to just take it easy a bit more, I will have a more balanced life.
I too appreciated the sharing from group members and look forward to the Advent study.
Marianne,
May the Lord grant you complete healing, a full recovery, and a long and fruitful journey. We look forward to you joining us again at Advent.
Ray
My prayers are with you as you continue the next few years being declared to be in cancer remission. I had 8 weeks of radiation and saw those going to the same unit for chemo. Although my radiation destroyed my energy at a very deep level and caused eating problems, my heart always went out to those having chemo. By comparison radiation is a “breeze”. Then the 5 years awaiting the news that I truly was in remission were anxious sometimes, esp when going for my exams. So know that those of us who have survived are praying for you even if some of us haven’t posted. God Bless you!
Marianne,
Your faithfulness to this group while going through a serious health ordeal is so inspiring. May your faith continue to buoy and console you as you continue on your journey. Like Lori Jo, I too plan to reread the blog entries again over the next month or so as a reminder that there is much love, wisdom , and courage to be found in our little community. (Good idea, Lori Jo).
Marianne, I’ll be praying for peaceful and joy filled healing for you, and expecting good news in December. Multitudinous blessings!
I have learned much from your posts, Marianne. Thank you. Yes, a more balanced life! Knowing we are beloved by God. (And sticky notes to set priorities on our journey!) If memory serves me, you mentioned in you introduction that you are in western Canada. (My son is also in Calgary.) You will be in my prayers, Marianne. Watching the sun set here, a few hours earlier due to our time difference, will remind me to look westward and pray for you. Many blessings and continued improvement in health to you until our paths cross in Advent. L J
Thanks for the wonderfully supportive comments! I look forward to Advent.
I am sitting on my sunny small front porch in Ontario Canada. There is a delightul cool breeze embracing me and I am hearing a cardinal’s song not far away. I started this entry by first rereading The Preface by Sue Mosteller. Her preface summarizes what is in store for the journey of reading Finding My Way Home. Her words touch me in a different way now that I have read the book and participated with you all in this journey. I plan to continue rereading both the book and your heartfelt entires over the next month — a book study “rerun” of sorts so that the readings and messages will remain with me. Sometimes I find the content of Henri’s books very deep and I need to return to the books and absorb the truths in smaller chunks. During my years working (before retirement) I experienced the pressure of upward mobility. Being a single mother it was a struggle to find contentment with my life script. Deep down I knew it was more fruitful to listen to the whisper of The Holy Spirit. It was a mistake to seek peace by wishing for material things beyond my means. I am so grateful to have moved past such spiritual emptiness. Oh the fruits of the spirit are what brings perfect peace. Now retired, I am content and at peace with my simple grace filled life. God Bless you, my reading friends. LJ
The three most significant ideas that I have taken away with me from this book discussion are: the importance of BEING (taught to me by Adam), the fruitfulness of Mackenzies very short life (remembering how the nurse came to Christ in the last 5 weeks of Mackenzies life) and the value of “being acted upon” that is in some way a call to a deeper love. That idea still needs a lot more mulling over. For me, “finding home” is that very much needed quiet time of the day between me and my God. Its when I feel most at home and can truly be myself. I have learnt that it doesn’t really matter whether I am working back stage, centre stage or am a mere spectator (being acted upon). All of these ways can be a call to living a more fruitful life.
God bless you all. It has been a pleasure journeying with you these last five weeks. May we all bear fruit for the Kingdom along our very different and varied paths.
Thank you Cel and Elaine for your insightful sharing and for being “fellow seekers”. Henri does challenge me as well with his take on things; encourages me to take another look. You all encourage me. Ray and Maureen, you are dear friends along the way; inspiring gifts from the Spirit for which I am truly grateful.
I shared a bond with Henri in “Finding My Way Home”: the change of heart that takes place after a life event. His was an accident, mine was a cancer diagnosis which resolved after surgery to remove a kidney. I made a lot of promises to God with the diagnosis. Now that the crisis has passed, I find the “old ways” returning. That’s why we are seekers, looking for ways to stay connected to our life source together. This community is definitely one of the ways that helps me stay connected. Thank you all and I look forward to the Advent discussions with all of you.
One more inspiration that for lack of a better word that ‘blindsided’ me during the reading was that God is waiting for my answer. I am not sure that I have really come to grips with that one. It will be a source of much thought and prayer this season. I am encouraged though by many fellow seekers who cross my path. Community has now taken on a greater meaning in my life.
As I look forward, I am inspired to begin work now on preparing for a Lenten sharing group I belong to in my winter home in AZ in hopes of sharing Henri’s and your insights as we discover that God is waiting for our answer.
Peace to all on this scared journey together.
Reflecting on the entire book and our month-long discussion, I keep coming back to the two main ideas I shared with my spiritual director and a close friend who is a fellow seeker of God. I felt Henri’s discussion of being acted upon rather than being in control (week 2) flowed naturally from his discussion of powerlessness in week 1 and have done a lot of reflecting upon them. The other idea was his emphasis on fruitfulness after death. One of the things I love about Henri’s writings is that often he’ll approach a topic from a completely new direction that causes me to examine what I “know” and think about the topic and how I try to live it. The new slant illuminates attitudes and actions and either affirms the direction I have (sometimes unknowingly) been growing, or challenges me to think again and usually enlarge my whole approach. He’s done it again this summer! I have a received a huge shot in the arm for my efforts to go with the flow rather than take charge, especially when that means actively confronting a challenge or something I realize I’m failing in. Since my project for the year is to become more of the kind and gentle person I want to be, this fits perfectly. As I become more willing to be acted upon rather than act, I will automatically become more patient, and (naturally) gentler. I’m convinced this also will flow automatically into enhancing fruitfulness rather than production. I have enjoyed everyone’s comments and saved several so that I can reread them as I continue to mull things over. I dream of a small group of local people who would be a community in which to have these conversations – maybe that will eventually become a fruit of these online discussions. Meanwhile, I’m grateful for everyone in this group, and especially Ray, and hope we’ll have another great discussion during Advent.
I began my final reflection by rereading all of your comments. Cel, Marianne, Ann, Sallie, and Doris, I am inspired by your beautiful attitude about physical and emotional suffering, and I take courage in your words of wisdom. Sharon, Gilly, and Nuala, I am inspired by the joy you seem to find in your commitment to meaningful service to people in need. Kathy, Jerry, Ray, Gary, Kim, and Charles, I take consolation in our being fellow searchers for meaning, especially as people with a tendency toward “doing” more than just “being.” Thanks also to Lori Jo, David, Andrew, Bob, Holly, Kathy, John, Laura, Renelle, Sonya, and Cathy, for words that really resonated with me. Thanks to all who responded personally to my comments and to those who responded to others during the course of our month-long discussion. All of you have been such good listeners (and what a lost art that is in our society). Some of you have apologized for posting only occasionally or briefly, but like Ray, I feel no apologies are necessary.
Throughout the whole discussion, I have strongly felt the spiritual and emotional support of a wide and diverse community who are drawn to the gentle and accepting spirituality of Henri Nouwen. In a blogospheric world that too often relies on snarky, glib, and flippant remarks, I feel blessed to have discovered this haven of peace and soulfulness, a place that has helped me in “finding my way home.” As always, thanks, Ray, for making this journey possible.
Great post, Elaine! I especially liked this part of it: “In a blogospheric world that too often relies on snarky, glib, and flippant remarks, I feel blessed to have discovered this haven of peace and soulfulness, a place that has helped me in ‘finding my way home.'” You hit the nail squarely on the head. Thanks!