Category: Summer 2015 Finding My Way Home

Reading:  The Path of Power (p 21-49).
For the complete reading schedule and instructions on how to submit and reply to comments, click on the Reading Schedule link in the bar immediately below the photo.

Thanks to each of you for joining the vibrant group of seekers forming this spirit-filled community. We had a wonderful first week of warm introductions and sharing.  It is a great joy to reconnect with previous participants and to welcome many others joining us for the first time.  Thanks to each of you for your contributions—whether you actively post comments or follow our discussion silently. We are all blessed simply by your presence.

Henri’s essay The Path of Power is thought provoking and, perhaps, transformational. Please feel free to share whatever came up for you through your reflection on the readings.  You may also choose to respond to some of the questions below:

1.  In describing power that oppresses and destroys Henri writes, “God knows the agony and anguish we have brought upon ourselves by wanting to take our destiny in our own hands and lord it over others.” (p 25) Taking it a step further he says, “The most insidious, divisive, and wounding power is used in the service of God.” (p 28)
a) Cite one or more events in in history, in our world today, or in your own life where someone has used power to “lord it over others”? What did you learn from the event that can guide us on our spiritual journey home?
b) What is your reaction to Henri’s criticism of “the devastating influence of power in the hands of God’s people”?

2.  Henri writes that our loving God confronted the evil in the world and showed us his divine mercy through powerlessness. “In Jesus of Nazareth, the powerless God appeared among us to unmask the illusion of power, to disarm the prince of darkness who rules the world, and to bring the divided human race to a new unity.” (p 31)
a) How does Jesus bring us to rest in the intimacy of God? Can you share your experience of God’s intimacy?
b) How does Jesus’ life of beatitude bring “the divided human race to a new unity”? What does this mean in your life today?

3.  In describing the power of God’s love, Henri writes, “A theology of weakness challenges us to look at weakness… as a total and unconditional dependence on God that opens us to be true channels of the divine power that heals the wounds of humanity and renews the face of the earth.” (p 40)
a) How do you respond to Henri’s challenge to look at weakness as dependence on God that renews the face of the earth?
b) How do  you live as a witness to a powerless God and help to build the kingdom of love and peace?

I’m looking forward hearing from many of you and to a rich and rewarding discussion. New joiners are always welcome, and, of course, feel free to share whatever comes up for you in the readings or to follow along silently.

Peace and all good.

Ray

Reading:  Foreword by Wendy Wilson Greer and Preface by Sue Mosteller
(Note: The complete Reading Schedule is available by following the link in the navigation bar located directly below the photo at the top of the page.)

A very warm welcome to each of you–friends who have journeyed with us before and those joining us for the first time.  You will find here, in the weeks ahead, a wonderful group of seekers who encourage each other in their desire after the heart of God.  This summer we will be reading and discussing Finding My Way Home: Pathways to Life and the Spirit, a collection of four short Henri Nouwen essays  that complement each other wonderfully.  I’m glad that you will be joining us as we follow Henri’s lead on this spiritual journey.

Those of you that have participated before already know how rich and rewarding the exchange of ideas within our online community can be. If you are a newcomer, rest assured that your appreciation of this book will be deepened by the comments and insights shared among this welcoming group.   As the facilitator my role is to prepare a space and scatter a few seeds that, when joined with the seeds sown by each of you and nurtured by the group, will grow into a rich and fruitful exchange among a special and caring community.

Here is how we will proceed.  Each Sunday a new “post” will be added to the blog’s homepage that will include a title shown in bold, a reminder of the reading being discussed that week, and a brief reflection with several questions that may help to get our discussion started.  You can then add your comments to the post for the current week and reply to the comments posted by others.   What you share in your comments is totally up to you.  You may choose to respond to one or more of the questions, to share your reflections on the reading, or to comment more broadly from your life’s experience.  And if you would be more comfortable participating by reading along  and reflecting on the comments of others without posting yourself, that is fine as well.  Always click on the ‘comments’ link immediately below the current post (i.e., the first one you come to at the top) to leave your comment.  In this case, it is immediately below Ray’s brief bio.  Note:  To leave a “new comment” (i.e., not a reply to an existing comment by someone), scroll to the bottom of all existing comments to the “comment box” and enter your new comment there. 

Please note that when comments are submitted they are held for moderation so it may be a few hours before you see your comment posted.   If you have any questions about how to use the blog, please feel free ask.  You may contact me at ray.glennon@1972.usna.com or Maureen at admin@henrinouwen.org.

With that background out of the way, let’s get started!    You are invited to introduce yourself and to reflect on the Foreword and Preface.  In your introduction you may choose to share:

1. Your general geographic location
2.  To whom or what you dedicate your days and energy, and why
3. Whether you’ve participated in previous book discussions, or if you are joining us for the first time.  For the first-timers, how did you learn about this book discussion?
4. In the Foreword Wendy Wilson Greer writes, “Our journey, then, is a journey to discover the perfect love that only God can give us.”  What might “finding my way home” mean to you in the current stage of your life and spiritual journey.

I look forward to hearing from each of you as we share this wonderful book together.

Peace and all good,

Ray

RAY GLENNON: Ray is a lifelong Catholic who lives in Columbia, Maryland and is active as a lector and in his parish Confirmation and adult faith formation programs. He and his wife are also members of a Catholic charismatic community. Ray first became familiar with Henri’s work over 20 years ago; he 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. Ray has participated in these book discussions since 2010.  You may contact him at ray.glennon@1972.usna.com and you can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/@RayGlennon.

Please join Ray Glennon and the Henri Nouwen Society as we embark on an exploration of Henri Nouwen’s Finding My Way Home: Pathways to Life and the Spirit. We will begin June 28th and conclude the week of August 2nd.

How does our book discussion work?
On Sunday June 28, our facilitator, Ray Glennon will introduce himself on the blog and invite you to do the same. Ray will post reflection questions on the blog each Sunday through to August 2nd in keeping with a reading schedule we have posted on this blog (see top menu for link to reading schedule). There is no need to register or sign-in.

Read, reflect, share your thoughts – participate at your own pace and in whatever way is most meaningful for you.

Need a copy of Finding My Way Home?
Click here to purchase in US$
Click here to purchase in CDN$
Click here to purchase in the UK from Darton, Longman & Todd

Finding My Way Home is a collection of four short essays, three previously published by Crossroad Publishing and here revised, that looks at different aspects of our spiritual life: The Path of Power, The Path of Peace, The Path of Waiting, and The Path of Living and Dying.

In the book’s Foreword, Wendy Wilson Greer writes: “In Finding My Way Home, Henri Nouwen writes about ‘journey’ in [this] way:

Our spiritual journey calls us to seek and find this living God of Love in prayer, worship, spiritual reading, spiritual mentoring, compassionate service to the poor, and good friends. Let us claim the truth that we are loved and open our hearts to receive God’s overflowing love poured out for us.”

We look forward to a fruitful discussion with friends new and old! Questions? Contact Maureen at admin@henrinouwen.org