Part Two: Chapter Five - “The Hidden Exile of Resentment”, pgs 66-77
1. On pages 71-73, Henri Nouwen talks about “the work to earn love ethic” that he once believed was a good ideal for life. he note that this image kept getting interrupted and torn to shreds. In your opinion, what is the difference between working to earn love (in primary relationships) and living these relationships out of gratitude for a gift? How would that have made a difference in the older son’s position in the painting?
2. After completing any or all of the “listening, journaling, dialoguing” exercises, write a brief prayer asking God or Jesus for what you desire. If you are comfortable, share the prayer with our online community.
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May 23rd, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
Dear Lord,
You know the great depths of my heart. Go to these depths Lord, search me. When you see deeply embedded anger & resentment, use Your power Lord to dissipate it. Clear it out so that I may be able to lovingly relate to You and to others. I have confidence that you can do this for me. You’ve done it before and you are doing it now as we speak. This is what ressurection means! Don’t stop or give up on me!
Kim
May 23rd, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Dear God, my mother and father, help me be who I really am; help me do what I really want to do in accordance with your love without fear of disappointing those close to me (especially my wife). Lord, I really want to discover who I really am as your beloved son.
May 23rd, 2009 @ 8:31 am
Dear Lord,
You know the depths of my heart. Go to these depths Lord, search me. When You see deeply embedded anger & resentment, use Your power Lord to dissipate it. Clear it out so that I may be able to lovingly relate to You and to others. I have confidence that You can do this for me. You’ve done it before and You are doing it right now as we speak. This is what ressurection means! Don’t give up on me!
Kim
May 16th, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
Daddy God - Please continue to remind me at every minute that there is nothing I can do and no place I can hide that will keep you from loving me UNCONDITIONALLY! Help me and all that surrond me in any way (esp those of us journing here at this time), to know that your love can’t be measured by any love that we can give or have received by others. I’ll need to be reminded often that your love is free and even if I never do another thing for anyone that you will still love me. Thank you for being faithful to me even when I am not to you. Heal our wounds so that we will always be able to see you in every other person. I love you and now my heart is starting to unharden and open to hear from you. AMEN — I know that my resentment runs deep because I have always felt like I had to say yes with everything you asked, now help me to do it because I want to and not because I feel I have to…..
May 15th, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
In Chapter 5 I note that by feeling that I must earn the love that God is alreay bestowing on me and with which God has loved me since before I was born, I would be denying God’s steadfast support and underestimating what I am: a Beloved Daughter of God. I would be putting myself outside God’s Love (impossible), denying myself of this great unmerited, unearned gift. My prayer: May I always remember an be grateful for the bountiful blessings God is lovingly offering if only I will ask for them.
May 14th, 2009 @ 6:36 am
Dear Lord God,
Help me to let You be You all by Yourself. And help me to let others be themselves all by themselves. Help me to not put my own agendas on them, to expect them to say and do things just because that is the way I think they should be saying and doing things. Give me patience and trust to be with others as they inhabit freely their space and to learn ever deeper and deeper the glorious Kingdom you are bringing even down here to earth. For that is my basic need. There is my joy and celebration.
Amen