Finding My Way Home
By Henri J.M. Nouwen
Having written over 40 books in his lifetime, Henri Nouwen, considered one of the great spiritual writers of modern times, spent the last 10 years of his life with physically and mentally challenged individuals. He relates his experiences as examples and reflections to his readers, while delivering an overall message of peace.
This is an inspirational book that asks the reader to look at the surrounding world in a new light and question the individuals we’ve become. It is a relatively short, easy read that has a significant message. The book is separated into four parts: “The Path of Power,” “The Path of Peace,” “The Path of Waiting,” and “The Path of Living and Dying.” In each section, Nouwen shares his stories and relates Christ’s journey to our own spiritual journeys in understandable, simple ways.
With his comforting message, Nouwen reminds us to slow down and look at the world around us. Whether you’re young and struggling with the pressures of school, busy with a demanding career, retired, frustrated with the current state of the world, or are just living life as it hits you, this book has some beautiful reflections and messages from which anyone can benefit.
“… Be surprised not by suffering but by joy. As we grow old, we will have to stretch out our arms, be guided and led to places we would rather not go. What was true for Peter will be true for us. There is suffering ahead of us, immense suffering, a suffering that will continue to tempt us to think that we have chosen the wrong road and that others were more shrewd than we were. But don’t be surprised by pain. Be surprised by joy, be surprised by the little flower that shows its beauty in the midst of a barren desert, and be surprised by the immense healing power that keeps bursting forth like springs of fresh water from the depth of our pain.” --Excerpt from the book
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