Final Week (Week Seven): Thursday, November 12: Your Kingdom Come (p. 37) and closing thoughts
Henri Nouwen has long been known for his poignant, insightful books that are short, easy-to-read yet full of content. I would describe Henri Nouwen as a person who has a gift for sharing brief yet powerful “nuggets” of information and words of wisdom that, for many people, last a lifetime.
One obvious example of Henri Nouwen’s concise use of language is the fact that this very short book (totaling less than 40 pages!) ends with a one paragraph chapter! Here, however, on page 37 we find one sentence that summarizes much of the wisdom shared in the preceding pages: “In ministering to each other, each from the riches that he or she possesses, we work together for the full coming of God’s Kingdom.”
What concluding words would you like to share with the group? Is there a particular “piece of wisdom” you find in this book that strikes you as being particularly relevant to the task of fundraising as ministry? If someone were to ask you “What have you learned from Henri Nouwen, what would you say?”
Many of you have shared your thoughts over the past seven weeks while others have observed and listened. I look forward to all of your closing thoughts during this final week.
-Henry
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February 7th, 2010 @ 7:33 am
I did write some months back to ask where we could purchase the booklet Spirituality of Fund Raising but have not received any reply. Diana
November 19th, 2009 @ 6:49 am
THANK YOU to all of you for a very enjoyable and enlightening six weeks of conversation! Best wishes as we enter the holiday season and New Year!
Take care–Henry
November 15th, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
I’ve enjoyed participating in this conversation on fundraising. Henri Nouwen’s last paragraph inspires me, as I begin a career in this area. “Fundraising is a very rich and beautiful activity. It is a confident, joyful, and hope-filled expression of ministry.” This has been my first exposure to the writings of Henri Nouwen and I’m looking forward to reading his other writings and incorporating the lessons I’ve learned over the past several months into my life. What a great way to be introduced to fundraising. As a student I’ve read many articles and books on fundraising but this booklet has made the most impact on me personally thus far. Thanks Henry and all the participants for your comments, I’ve really had a great time.
November 14th, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
Thank you, Char, for your active and thoughtful engagement in the conversation these past few weeks.
November 14th, 2009 @ 8:11 am
Oh, yes….a ministry reaching out and building that community of support that we can all benefit from - directly or indirectly I have seen that happen over and over. That is what it should be all about. I have shared that perspective with many over the last few weeks as we have been discussing this ‘book’.
Happy Thanksgiving to this community of discussion that has been brought together - what a blessing.
November 13th, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
Rose–You raise an interesting question–What if fundraising as Ministry was embraced by everyone in the fundraising profession? How would that impact the way the profession is perceived? Just think of the people who would be drawn to this work?
Thank you Rose.
Henry
November 12th, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
Life got into the way of my entering into this series but I did peruse from time to time. I was extremely inspired by the wisdom in all the sharings. What I learned the most was that fundraising was actually a MINISTRY. I just wish that someone would have planted that seed half my life ago. I think I would have reached out and delegated more (even if it was easier and more reliable to do it myself), in the spirit of community building. I also have been able to write out checks (I am the “accountant/decision maker” for someone — and don’t write out the checks with as much resentment and try to have Henri’s heart while doing it…and that is a big heart to try to fill)….. Thank you Henry and subs for facilitating and a Blessed Thanksgiving Hol(y)day to all … Rose
November 12th, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Char and Larry–Thanks so much for your comments and words of wisdom. It is interesting how each person “brings to the table” a slightly different perspective and insight regarding “what they have gleaned” from Henri’s work yet, at its core, there seem to be a set of “common roots”. If I were to name those roots that I see we all tend to “take away” from the readings I would use such terms as community, partnership, calling, servanthood, communion, and prayer. What I have learned most from the reading of this book–and the wisdom shared by those who have participated in the blog these past seven weeks–is that I, as a fundraiser, can “lay claim” to these words even when to most people they “have nothing in common with fundraising”……unless, of course, you understand these words in the context of how Henri (and now “we”) see and use them.
Henry
November 12th, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
Earlier this year I spent a week at St. Andrew’s Abbey in California. While browsing in their bookstore I found a long shelf full of Henri’s writings and bought a half-dozen of them. That encounter and this one have served to re-engage me with Nouwen’s writings and inspiration.
I had read a number of his writings in the early 1990’s and had been especially taken with his book, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, and I even spent some time in conversation with Henri when he visited the Earlham School of Religion many years ago. Despite all of this, it had been at least ten years since I had read or re-read any of Nouwen’s work. My sojourn at the Abbey, and this blog on “The Spirituality of Fundraising,” have both been great gifts for me this year.
“If we ask for money,” writes Nouwen, “it means that we offer a new fellowship, a new brotherhood, a new sisterhood, a new way of belonging.”
One of my many take-aways from this Blog is his reminder and reinforcement of the idea that our work in fundraising is a legitimate invitation to others toward that feeling of belonging–of caring–and of making a difference.
My thanks to Henry Freeman, and to each of you.
Larry C. Spears
Indianapolis, IN
November 12th, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
I keep coming back to the thoughts of community and that we travel through this world as fellow explorers discovering the gifts of God in oh, so many places. By inviting others to join us along the way, we deepen our own spirituality as well as the spirituality of those that join us. We all want to make it a better world, but we don’t need to do it alone. Many hands (& gifts, financial or otherwise) make the workload much lighter is what my mother used to tell me. Blessings to all. I wish we were not done so that we could keep sharing thoughts with each other.
November 12th, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
Sharon–Thank you for your thoughtful comment–I, also, found that the sentence you selected from page 3 reflects very directly and powerfully Henri’s message about fundraising as a) ministry; b) a “proclamation of what we believe; c) God’s abundance; and d) partnership.
Thank you, Sharon, also for the many words of wisdom you have shared with others these past few weeks!
November 12th, 2009 @ 12:10 pm
Page 3 “Fund-raising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission.” Through Henri Nouwen’s book and the writing on this blog, I have been challenged to delve deeper into what I actually believe about God’s abundance, about money, about love. My sharing the Good News has already and will be further in the future more rich and beautiful because I have been ministered to by Henri Nouwen and all you folk. Thank you.
God bless you and all the work you do.