Week of Nov. 24 - Conclusion to The Inner Voice of Love
Dear Inner Voice of Love bloggers:
Thank you all for your comments and inputs over the past 8 weeks as we’ve read though this challenging book. I can see why it has been such a treasure to so many people.
This is our ‘conclusion’ week. So, as a wrap up to this discussion, let me pose 2 opportunities to share:
1 – share with us one area of your life that has been impacted by The Inner Voice of Love.
2 – share with us a favorite Nouwen phrase or quote from The Inner Voice of Love that you’d like to have etched on your tombstone to bless or challenge generations to come – something you have underlined as you’ve read this book.
Again, thank you all for your participation and Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings, Jack
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December 6th, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
I have been away, but once home, allowed “things” to stand in the way of this site. However,one thing I did do,I took copies of the parts I would be away for with me. Throughout the readings, many have hit home. I found it difficult to separate from the fact that these were Henri Nouwen’s writings. Give Your Agenda to God was/is something I struggle with, and Henri’s advice of a gentle, loving God is dually noted.
A passage, I copied the first time I read it,is one that is read daily. ‘God says to you, “I love you, I am with you, I want to see you come closer to me and experience they joy and peace of my presence. I want to give you a new heart and a new spirit. I want you to speak with my mouth, see with my eyes, hear with my ears, touch with my hands. All that is mine is yours. Just trust me and let me be your God.” ‘
Thank you for this experience.
November 28th, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
Thank you Jack for leading us through these discussions and this amazing book, which has impacted my faith journey tremendously. As is usually the case with Henri’s books, I found that the reflections had a unique impact on me depending on when and where in my faith journey I would read them. On any given day one would invariably “speak to me” where I was emotionally and spiritually. The treasures were always there waiting for me and reminding me that I am not alone. I would echo what Lee and Phillip elude to: the paradox of being together as a body on this journey that is so personal, individual and uniquely our own. Yet, we are united by the Spirit of Him who lives within and among us–the Spirit that calls us to “stop wandering around…come home and trust that God will bring you what you need”. (”Come Home-page 12). This is the blessing that I would choose to leave on my tombstone.
Peace to you all as we continue on in the journey.
Be blessed
Diane
November 28th, 2008 @ 9:49 am
The Inner Voice of Love is a very personal journey from desolation to a return home- to God, to peace, to oneself as a beloved. I understand that kind of journey- all of us are called to make our own personal journey, one that Henri underscores with dignity in suffering and the singularity of each person’s journey. Some of us are asked to take many of these journeys. The blessing I found was Henri Nouwen’s love, faith and trust in us to share one of his journeys through the narrow gate- it is an extrordinary gift of heart and soul.
If I could leave a blessing for those who come after it would be, “Stand before the pain by trusting in the answer to your call Lord,have mercy.” Inside the most overwhelming suffering is peace, hope,and Love- the joy of finding your heart beats within the Sacred Heart.
November 26th, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
The greatest blessing I received from reading this book with all of you was the companionship of knowing that I am not alone in my journey of faith. I experienced a major bout of depression this past year. Henri’s words were Jesus’ words of love and encouragement to me, as were the thoughts that all of you shared in our reading.
On my tombstone, the last words on page 115: “Remember, you are held safe. You are loved. You are protected. You are in communion with God and with those whom God has sent you. What is of God will last. It belongs to eternal life. Choose it, and it will be yours.”
Joy and Peace in Jesus, Lee
November 23rd, 2008 @ 8:05 am
What has impacted me most during this leg of our journey together is further discovering the similarities in our relationships’ with God on how we are connected to the body of Christ by that Inner voice, the Spirit, that can call each of us simultaneously to our true selves!
My 6th grade Sunday school lesson this morning is on the Mary and Martha story (Lk 10:38-42). How fitting it is to this question on how Jesus rebukes Martha from her wanting Him to rebuke Mary for not wanting to help her get their dinner ready. Mary is instead listening to Jesus (inner voice) and Martha is distracted by the(outer voice) false self albeit irritation, anxiety, frustration, and materialistic.
This leads me to my favorite part of the book which is where Henri uses the analogy of the “New Country,” pg 21. I think of my no small struggle of trusting God more and how important it is to be in community to be encouraged and nudged to continue listening to the inner voice, and keep “crossing the border”(etched on my tombstone)and finding that home(Heaven) far away from the false un-adorned self. Thanks for your comments and may peace be with all of you through this new season of life.
November 22nd, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
Continuing to think about the last words on my tombstone. No, not “I have brought my body home.” God has brought my body home? No, not that either. Henri Nouwen’s words “Thanks to the Incarnation, you can bring your body home.” A word of what I believe so deep inside and appreciate Henri Nouwen writing about. Would it be understood out there on the tombstone? People that know me living would understand my hope, my faith. Would the truth go further? Still thinking about all of this and will undoubtedly think upon it all a great deal more.
Looking forward to reading other’s contributions.
November 22nd, 2008 @ 9:17 am
(1) Henri Nouwen writes on page 4 “God is faithful to God’s promises. Before you die, you will find the acceptance and the love you crave. It will not come in the way you expect. It will not follow your needs and wishes. But it will fill your heart and satisfy your deepest desire. There is nothing to hold on to but this promise. Everything else has been taken away from you. Cling to that naked promise in faith. Your faith will heal you.” I think this is very Biblical. How many times does Jesus tell someone “Your faith has made you well” or that in so many words. I have struggled my whole life long with the flesh and coping with mental illness. Have spent a couple of years babysitting for a baby who was born with schizencephaly, having only use of about half her brain. For quite some time now have spent a lot of time visiting the homebound and those in nursing homes, especially with my pastor. There is something in me that believes with all my heart that, even the person with the most difficult dementias or other disablement is in place for this promise to “heal them” yet before they die. I come along to be present and loving and faithful and prayerful with them on this part of their journey which is going towards filling their hearts and satisfying their deepest desires. This book of Henri Nouwen’s has helped me in so many ways to think through things but especially it has confirmed things that I feel but never have been able to articulate. Henri Nouwen’s words help me to understand better what the Spirit has already put into my heart.
(2) For my tombstone, after this life I am living, especially for the people who have known me and pass the memories on down to children and children of children, I would like to leave, page 20 “Thanks to the Incarnation, I have brought my body home.”
My prayers continue for Patty and her husband.
It has been very inspiring and strengthening in the faith to study The Inner Voice of Love and especially to read all of the many insightful comments. I have learned.
November 20th, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
I just got introduced to this activity yesterday. seems like something I want to participate in..how do i go about it ?
In Christ service
ibrahim