Turning the Wheel: Reflections on the Henri Nouwen Conference
On May 18-20, 2006, two-hundred and fifty people gathered in Toronto, Canada on the campus of the University of St. Michael’s College to reflect on the legacy of Henri Nouwen. The conference, organized and hosted by The Henri J.M. Nouwen Archives to mark the 10th anniversary of Nouwen’s death, brought together people from across the spectrum of the Christian faith and from three continents. Powerful presentations were made by seven keynote speakers including Mary Jo Leddy, Michael Higgins, Laurent Nouwen, Carol Berry, Sue Mosteller, Gord Henry and John Mogabgab. More than forty-three people presented papers and workshops on topics that preoccupied Nouwen in his lifetime, and still have particular relevance for us today. Music, morning prayer, talking circles and artistic renderings of the symbol of the wheel provided continuity and invoked a spirit of enquiry, reflection, and community. A biographers’ panel stimulated lively discussion and challenged many to consider the relevance of the personal life of a man who for many is one of the great spiritual teachers of the late 20th century.
We invite participants of the conference to share thoughts, experiences, questions or comments about the conference, in general or very specific terms. It is hoped that this can be a space where conversations started can be resumed, where questions pondered can be asked, and challenges or disappointments can be voiced. It may also be a place where the community that took root in our three days together can continue to grow and flourish. Your ideas on how to harness the energy and spirit of our time together are especially welcome. Many of us felt commissioned by Laurent Nouwen to befriend our “Adam” and by Sue Mosteller who said in her concluding remarks: “We are beloved daughters and sons of a living God and called to become more and more beloved mothers and fathers, loving others and taking responsibility to be compassionate and forgiving of all. We were not here as consumers of a nice gathering and nice speeches. We are beloved and called to share this good news with others.” Consider sharing the ways you have (or have not) incorporated this call into your lives.
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June 12th, 2006 @ 6:10 pm
As a conference participant in Turning the Wheel I find myself truly grateful for the keynote address by Laurent Nouwen who invited us to reflect on God, to carry on Henri Nouwen’s legacy through active compassion, and whose own life is a demonstration of the transformation of the key insights of Henri’s life. I find myself asking why my own compassion has become technical, theological, distant rather than participation in the brokenness, radical downward mobility, and a desire to ‘go to the people and places where suffering is most acute’. I am grateful for the reminders.
Phil C. Zylla
June 12th, 2006 @ 9:54 pm
Were there presentations on Fr. Nouwen’s work/views on children???
Wendy S
June 14th, 2006 @ 5:22 am
The conference was tremendously inspiring and affirms the research I am pursuing branching off of Henri’s work. I loved and so adored L’Arche. The speakers were fabulous!
May I seek you help?
Do you know of stories that help show how the Spirit becomes a tool for rebuilding one’s life in the face of disability?
What tools (spiritual) do persons use when confronted with any “extra challenges” they perceive associated with a need to adapt or accommodate aspects of their person affected by disability?
What are “breakthrough moments” where the hand of God or God’s spirit provide inspiration, talents insights that become a internal guide or pathway one uses to achieve goals? Purpose? Destiny?
What are manifestations of “spiritual resilience” personal strengths of character and repertorie of talents and skills that enable, transcend and serve to assist a rising beyond a status of brokenness, defeat?
What are noteworthy illustrative instances where a person enjoins; family, friends, caregivers, professionals, a community, support group, in making extensions of one’s body and dominion of resources to go beyond limitations, obstacles, handicaps, disabilities and discover pathways to fulfillment, achievement and triumph of the Human spirit?
What are the mysterious forces of attitude, motivation, spirituality that can be harnessed and channeled as a means of power and electromotive force to overcome adverse conditions and bridge formidable circumstances that threaten to curtail or diminish the dignity, drive and determination to persevere and triumph at the end of the day?
Please email stories to me at Dgrossnick@aol.com. My hope is to share “praxis” practical illustrations that amplify and express the work of Henri Nouwen.
Blessings
June 14th, 2006 @ 8:15 pm
The conference was an incredible experience; I felt uplifted and nourished, not only by learning more about Henri Nouwen’s work, but also by the kindness and support showered upon me by all the wonderful people I encountered. I felt like I was in a dream-world at times– as a person with a disability, I felt so completely included and valued as an equal member among the group. It felt so good to be with so many good people. I feel inspired to seek God’s help in trying to be a kinder and gentler person with others as well as with myself. I have planted sunflower seeds in order to remember the amazing conference. I look forward to touching the plants as they grow and think of what Van Gogh’s painting must look like, since I cannot see it visually. It may sound strange, but I feel the conference has nudged me to “see” things more creatively as a blind person. The conference was definitely a growing experience!
June 14th, 2006 @ 11:56 pm
In reading the posts, I am so glad we have a way of reconnecting-what a wonderful conference it was! Like Donna, I was blessed to be among so many wonderful people. Soon after I arrived, I knew it was more than I came for and I just sat back and let it play out. Somehow we were all there with our own stories and collectively united by our experience of Henri’s influence as it touched our lives. I love the idea about planting sunflower seeds- what a great reminder of the time at St Michael’s- I have the perfect “empty space” to sow the seeds.
In response to Don’s questions, I was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago almost to the day. At 46, it was totally thrust upon me without any warning. I was devasted and my future became a big question mark. Our daughter was going into her senior year in high shcool, I had planned to work for another 15 years as a retail manager and I was blessed with a wonderful husband whom I felt I was going to let down. I was too young to stop having control over my life but I had run into a wall.
My breakthrough was early on when my husband told me “this is not your disease- it’s our disease”. He provided me the platform of trust to live with MS. I learned the only way around it was through it. It took time but I had to befriend my MS and I continue to do that. My mantra was focus on what you can do- not what you can’t.
Fortunately for me, I have long cherished my gift of faith. At first I was really disappointed that I found no spiritutal consolation in dealing with my disease. However, I kept going to church and meeting with my weekly prayer group. I was afraid not to.
When I had to resign my career a year later, the first week out I went on my first week-long silent retreat to figure out what I would do with rest of my life. The following week, I was accepted into a 2 year program for Spiritual Direction which I had become acquainted with on retreat. It truly gave my life direction for the next 2 years. My point in all this- my life with it’s challenges has remained meaningful and full of many graces by just being open to the opportunities that present themselves. I assure you, they are there in all our lives. We just have to look. I don’t have a master plan for the next 5-10 years. The Nouwen conference only entered my radar 5 months before it happened and with Laurent’s imperative- who knows where it will take me.
Thanks to all of you that made those 4 days so special and a part of my lifebook.
June 15th, 2006 @ 10:33 am
Hi Wendy,
There was a paper presented at the conference that might be of interest to you. It was entitled “Spirituality and Education: Henri Nouwen’s Inspirations to Parent Education” by Astrid Gilles-Bacciu (Archidiocese of Cologne). If you are interested, you can contact the Nouwen Archives for more information about this paper. In addition, you might consider submitting a research request to the Nouwen Archives, and we can discuss other records in the Archives that might be helpful for your dissertation. Please go to http://www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/library/nouwen/ for more information on submitting a research request.
Gabrielle Earnshaw
Archivist, The Henri J.M. Nouwen Archives and Research Collection
June 15th, 2006 @ 12:25 pm
Thanks Betty for your story-It is just the kind of story I am seeking.
In my journey I visit with many who confront the ravages of disability that hack into their spirituality and threaten to break them.
I have become a “spiritual tinker” I take my wagon and my tools to back bedrooms where I have been invited to bring God’s light and healing presence, to bring hope, meaning to suffering, attend to human and practical needs and otherwise provide the touch of God who loves and never abandons us, even when we are angry, forlorn, hopeless, and even lash out at God,like Jesus-My God My God, why have you forsaken and abandoned me?
Henri Nouwen asked,-Can You Drink the cup of Jesus?
With the love and support of a minister of God, in communion,– we embrace, we share Jesus, we take the offer of joining our hearts and heads an soul-”take my yoke it is easy” Jesus shares our load, feels our pain and vulnerability, gives us his body and blood to sustainus on the journey to fruitfulness, fulfillment and ressurection.
Thanks again.
Betty–Please email me at dgrossnick@aol.com
In the event I may pass along your story, I shall like to have your permission?
June 18th, 2006 @ 5:13 pm
I came away from the conference seeing again the value of l’Arche and the privilege of being a member of a l’Arche community. For me, familiar with the ways of l’Arche, this came less from the day at Daybreak or from the involvement of l’Arche throughout the conference - although these experiences were and remain important - and more from seeing the impact of l’Arche and l’Arche people upon those who had no previous contact with the communities. I met several people who had been deeply touched by l’Arche and who, although seemingly unable to articulate the reasons for this reaction, were able through their ‘response of the heart’ to call me back to the values that are so important, for our communities primarily but also, I suspect, for people in general. Back in my community I have shared this experience with several others in the hope that they would be encouraged and challenged as I have been.