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edgoff's review against another edition
4.0
Nouwen encourages you to live out your questions regarding life instead of trying to find someone to answer them for you. "Spiritual guidance affirms the basic quest for meaning. It calls for the creation of space in which the validity of the questions does not depend on the availability of answers but on the questions' capacity to open us to new perspectives and horizons" (9). "What matters most, what transforms, is the influence of a humble, vulnerable witness to the truth" (10).
glendonrfrank's review against another edition
3.0
I'm slowly working through the list of Nouwen books I've received over the years only to learn that like half of them are actually compilations and works completed after his death. This one is certainly well put together but winds up covering the same ground as much of what I've already read. Of course, I really like what I already read! A big section of this book is built out of an expanded version of one of my favourite articles by Nouwen. But yeah, as wonderful as it is to be reminded of some of his insights, it's hard to place this as a particularly noteworthy collection.
Perhaps the most interesting aspects of this collection are those that are drawn from the end of Nouwen's life. I think one of the most relieving aspects of Nouwen's writing is his tenderness, the fact that despite his position in orthodoxy he still presents an image of faith that is, at its heart, loving and caring. Moreover, much of his work presents a deep pain and insecurity, a desire for intimacy he can't quite touch and a repeated need to assure himself of his own belovedness. I know it's been suggested before but I can't shake the idea of Nouwen as a closed gay man and how that transforms everything we know about him. His final recorded insights here are of someone at the edge of a revelation, coming into an "embodied spirituality" and realizing many of the assumptions he had of his faith may have been wrong. There is a tragedy there; I have to wonder what the writings of a fully affirming Nouwen would have been, a Nouwen who finally found the inner peace he was looking for, as his last thoughts suggest.
Perhaps the most interesting aspects of this collection are those that are drawn from the end of Nouwen's life. I think one of the most relieving aspects of Nouwen's writing is his tenderness, the fact that despite his position in orthodoxy he still presents an image of faith that is, at its heart, loving and caring. Moreover, much of his work presents a deep pain and insecurity, a desire for intimacy he can't quite touch and a repeated need to assure himself of his own belovedness. I know it's been suggested before but I can't shake the idea of Nouwen as a closed gay man and how that transforms everything we know about him. His final recorded insights here are of someone at the edge of a revelation, coming into an "embodied spirituality" and realizing many of the assumptions he had of his faith may have been wrong. There is a tragedy there; I have to wonder what the writings of a fully affirming Nouwen would have been, a Nouwen who finally found the inner peace he was looking for, as his last thoughts suggest.
thea_no_evil's review against another edition
5.0
âSpiritual Directionâ gets 5 stars. Deeply honest, inspiring and encouraging you to dig deeper as you live out your faith and walk with Jesus. Henri Nouwen at his finest although he didnât âwriteâ this book the thoughts, quotes and illustrations come from many of his sermons, articles, journals, class lecture notes and both published and unpublished manuscripts. Itâs full of wisdom and particle advice on how to develop good habits in your spiritual journey.
One of my favourite parts readsâŚ.
âFor most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life - pray always, work for others, read the scriptures- and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tired again, even when I was close to despair.
Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realised that during this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not âHow am I to find God?â But âHow am I to let myself be found by Godâ The question is not âHow am I to know God?â But âHow am I to let myself be known by God?â The question is not âHow am I to love God?â But âHow am I to let myself be loved by God?â and finally, the question is not âWho is God for me?â but âWho am I to God?â
â¤ď¸
One of my favourite parts readsâŚ.
âFor most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life - pray always, work for others, read the scriptures- and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tired again, even when I was close to despair.
Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realised that during this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not âHow am I to find God?â But âHow am I to let myself be found by Godâ The question is not âHow am I to know God?â But âHow am I to let myself be known by God?â The question is not âHow am I to love God?â But âHow am I to let myself be loved by God?â and finally, the question is not âWho is God for me?â but âWho am I to God?â
â¤ď¸
timhoiland's review against another edition
4.0
âGo to the place where people are in pain, but donât go alone. Go with others who have learned how to be grateful for the good and bad of life. Go with those who can sit with others in need, even if problems and pain persist. Let your heart be broken and rely on Jesus' example of self-emptying so that you can be filled by Godâs strength. Then you will find the Messiah in your midst.â
caseykc's review against another edition
5.0
Highly recommended. Personal, practical, devotional, something to read at whatever pace you need, something I will return to (like much of Nouwen's writings), something for everyone...
jakethurston's review against another edition
5.0
Another Henri Nouwen classic. So clear and thought provoking, putting a fresh twist on so many things that are essential to the Christian life but often get forgotten. Highly recommend!
bickleyhouse's review against another edition
5.0
This is a wonderful little book on the topic of spiritual direction. The definition of "spiritual direction," as provided by the book is "a relationship initiated by a spiritual seeker who finds a mature person of faith willing to pray and respond with wisdom and understanding to his or her questions about how to live spiritually in a world of ambiguity and distraction."
The chapters of the book all have questions for titles. "Who Will Answer My Questions?" "Where Do I Begin?" "Who Am I?" "Where Have I Been and Where Am I Going?" And so on.
The chapters are also broken down into parts: Look Within to the Heart, Look to God in the Book, and Look to Others in Community.
Each chapter begins with parable of sorts, all from different sources. I suppose some people would object to the fact that some of the parables are from different "religions." Personally, that doesn't bother me. Why can I not learn from the wisdom of other religions?
This book is the first that I have read of Nouwen's work, although I have heard about him for many years. I definitely want to read more. There is great spiritual wisdom to be found in his writings. And this book will most definitely be read again, more slowly, perhaps with journaling involved.
I think this is a great volume to read for one, like me, who is on the beginning paths of spiritual direction. One thing it made me realize for certain is that I need spiritual direction. Either that of a more mature believer or a group of people. I'm kind of leaning toward a group that will begin this journey together.
The chapters of the book all have questions for titles. "Who Will Answer My Questions?" "Where Do I Begin?" "Who Am I?" "Where Have I Been and Where Am I Going?" And so on.
The chapters are also broken down into parts: Look Within to the Heart, Look to God in the Book, and Look to Others in Community.
Each chapter begins with parable of sorts, all from different sources. I suppose some people would object to the fact that some of the parables are from different "religions." Personally, that doesn't bother me. Why can I not learn from the wisdom of other religions?
This book is the first that I have read of Nouwen's work, although I have heard about him for many years. I definitely want to read more. There is great spiritual wisdom to be found in his writings. And this book will most definitely be read again, more slowly, perhaps with journaling involved.
I think this is a great volume to read for one, like me, who is on the beginning paths of spiritual direction. One thing it made me realize for certain is that I need spiritual direction. Either that of a more mature believer or a group of people. I'm kind of leaning toward a group that will begin this journey together.
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