Discussion begins Monday September 29th. Please join us!
Dear Friends,
We’ll soon be discussing The Inner Voice of Love. I have been encouraged by the response and people sharing with me “that is my FAVORITE book”. It should be a rich, active discussion!
Let me share with you the outline of the discussion and how I’m looking forward to working WITH YOU.
There are simply too many sections to discuss each one with any degree of respect for the material or the participants in an Internet blog. So, I thought it best to discuss a couple of the sections each week. To avoid my arbitrarily picking a section and forcing a discussion if there is more interest in another section during any particular week, I’m asking you who will be a part of this discussion blog to (1) e-mail me (jackgiven@comcast.net) the name of the sections you specifically would like to have discussed and (2) a brief paragraph of why THAT section is meaningful to you. The schedule is posted under “Pages” on the righthand side of your screen.
Please join our discussion as a reader or contributor and let’s make this preparation for Advent a rich season of welcoming the presence of God into our lives in a newer and deeper way by walking with Henri Nouwen through what were some difficult days for him and may be difficult times for many of us… But walking WITH Nouwen through them….and with Immanuel – God WITH us.
Blessings,
Jack
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October 5th, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
I have been dabbling in Nouwen’s books for some months, as well as reading the daily meditations. In addition to The Inner Voice of Love, I have benefited greatly from The Way of the Heart. I will be traveling throughout the month of October, so I am unable to be a ‘regular’ here during the discussion. Perhaps I can catch up later.
Many blessings to you all,
Sylvia
October 2nd, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Hello to everyone.
I am living in a small subdivision in a rural community near Coldwater Ontario Canada. I think I first encountered Henri’s writings in the 70s after reading and meeting Jean Vanier in Hamilton and Kingston Ontario. When I learned about a book sharing Henri’s private journal entries during this dark painful time in his life, I wanted to read it as I experienced some dark and drought like places in my spiritual journey. He had a profound influence on me in his earlier writings and now his struggling touched me. It affirmed my belief that the further we journey the road may not be easier,the answers may come with incresing difficulty and the questions may come with incresing frequency. I really appreciated his sharing this human vulnerability with me.
Blessings and Peace to all.
Judith
October 1st, 2008 @ 9:26 am
Hello, I read the Life of the Beloved a few years ago. It was a great book and helped me in my walk with the Lord. Other than that I haven’t read anything else by Henri Nouwen but I’ve heard from others that he’s a great author. I’ve read the first three pages of The Inner Voice and was encouraged so I’m looking forward to reading the book.
September 30th, 2008 @ 9:11 pm
Hi! This is my first Henri Nouwen book. I recently found out about him from a ministry I’m involved with. They recommended his book Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life to be read (along with a few other books and authors) in order to get a vision for their ministry. I signed up for the daily meditation and saw the notice for this group so I thought I would give it a try. I ordered both The Inner Voice and Compassion but will be starting with The Inner Voice. I look forward to our interaction. I’ve never taken part in a book discussion before so you may not hear much from me. Blessings, Kim
September 30th, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
Hello all, I was introduced to Henri’s writings about two years ago. He quickly became one of my favorite writers. Last year was extremely difficult for my family and me. I read The Inner Voice of Love over the summer, and I found myself either laughing or crying on nearly every page. Here was someone who understood the depth of the pain I was feeling and yet still had hope–something I was in short supply of. I look forward to discussing the book with all of you. Peace.
September 30th, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
Hello! I am so happy to be back once again with you all…the last book discussion I participated in was the book “Here and Now”. Interestingly, I had the opportunity recently to share Henri and “Here and Now’ with 2 couples from our church and we will be meeting twice a month to discuss that beautiful book.
It gave me such joy to introduce my church friends to Henri knowing that his reflections will have a profound effect on their walk with God. And I feel doubly blessed because now I will be involved in 2 discussions with 2 different Nouwen books!
My husband, youngest daughter and I live in a small town in Northern New Jersey (almost in NY State) with our dog, 2 cats and other assorted small animals. Our older daughter is a college student in Arizona. I am a 7th grade life and environmental science teacher—I love all living things (well…almost all!) and am passionate about the environment(like the Benedictines whom I join for a yearly retreat in upstate New York).
I have really been enjoying The Inner Voice of Love.
I’ve taken Henri’s advice and have been reading the pages that seem the most helpful to me on any given day. And I’m careful not to read too many at a time even though I always want to ‘devour’ anything Henri writes.
I recently attended a lecture at Drew University in Madison, NJ.celebrating Henri Nouwen’s life and work.
The women who spoke both knew Henri personally and Lisa (one of the speakers) has also been a contributor on this blog. It was a spirit-filled event and I found myself wishing that I could have met Henri. But in a way, I think I have met him because of the way he shares the deepest thoughts, feelings and desires of his heart so openly and with such vulnerability. I’m looking forward to our discussions and am grateful for this community.
Peace
Diane Chambers
September 30th, 2008 @ 9:15 am
Hello, I first came to know Henri Nouwen’s writings about nine years ago when I read Life of the Beloved, one of my favorite books. I find The Inner Voice of Love a very private illumination on being broken while struggling to put this curse under the blessing. I am moved by Nouwen’s willingness to give himself as a living Eucharist to all who read this book. The power of his vulnerability touches the Sacred. All of the entries resonate; it’s hard to choose specific ones, but I look forward to the thoughts of others in this group.
September 29th, 2008 @ 11:18 pm
Hello - I come to Henri by way of Faith and Light (a network of communities formed around people with developmental disability, their families and friends. I had been in Faith and Light for about a year when someone gave me a tape of Henri accepting an award (for what I cannot remember). During his acceptance speech he was sharing of his early experiences with Adam. I listened stunned because the story he told seemed exactly the same as an experience I had with a young man named Thomas. I felt I knew exactly what he was speaking about and the profound it affect it had on him (me!)
I was so excited but what I heard I wrote to Henri and shared my story thanking him for sharing his. I received a letter quickly in return from his secretary Kathy Christie informing me that Henri just began a year Sabbatical and she would save my letter for his return. Needless to say I don’t think he ever had a chance to hear by story of Thomas, as he passed away a few weeks after his return. I am ever grateful for all his stories and I have had some wonderful experiences praying with Inner Voice of Love. I look forward to seeing this blog unfold.
Peace
September 29th, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
I began Inner Voice while away for a week this summer. It was prior to a workshop I was to attend given by Will Hernandez. I never finished the book……….too much….perhaps too close at the time. In one of the sections, Nouwen speaks about returning home and just receive the love that is given to us. How powerful!
It was interesting to view Jack G.’s comment about Brennan Manning. How real both of these men are in their writings.
September 29th, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
Jack and Maureen, thanks for your effort in making this possible. And, the reason I keep coming back and doing this blog is that Henri’s life “challenges” me too! My hope is that we can grow closer to Christ and further understand how much God loves us.
September 29th, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
Maureen: I was at the same lecture at Drew! Wasn’t it wonderful? I felt a real connection with everyone in that room–it was a spirit filled event. I’m sorry we didn’t meet each other but I’m glad that you are part of this discussion. Thanks again Jack for moderating.
I will write more later…right now I have to get back to grading papers!
Blessings,
Diane
September 29th, 2008 @ 7:26 am
Serendipity…placed me at Drew University where I was most fortunate in hearing Lisa Cataldo speak about Henri Nouwen. To that point, I had never heard of Henri Nouwen, but Lisa’s presentation touched me and I knew I was in a room where I was supposed to be. She spent some time with me discussing Henri’s writings, and The Inner Voice of Love is where I am beginning this journey. How fortunate to have this for discussion.