Reaching Out
Three Movements of the Spiritual Life
With the clarity and depth characteristic of the classics, this spiritual bestseller lays out a perceptive and insightful plan for living a spiritual life and achieving the ultimate goal of that life — union with God.
Nouwen views our spiritual “ascent” as evolving in three movements. The first, from loneliness to solitude, focuses on the spiritual life as it relates to the experience of our own selves. The second, from hostility to hospitality, deals with our spiritual life as a life for others. The final movement, from illusion to prayer, offers penetrating thoughts on the most mysterious relationship of all: our relationship to God. Throughout, Nouwen emphasizes that the more we understand (and not simply deny) our inner struggles, the more fully we will be able to embrace a prayerful and genuine life that is also open to others’ needs.
Reaching Out is a rich book to be read, reread, pondered, and shared with others.
More About this Book
A Nouwen classic. This book is in response to the question: “What does it mean to live a life in the Spirit of Jesus Christ?” Using his own life as a guide, Nouwen offers incisive reflection about the challenges of living an authentic Christian life including inner restlessness, mixed feelings towards others and deep-seated suspicions about the absence of God. He then offers the antidote – reaching out to self, others, and God. The book is divided into through three movements: the movement from loneliness to solitude, the movement from hostility to hospitality and the movement from illusion to prayer. Nouwen doesn’t offer solutions so much as the strength to pursue the search for an authentic Christian life. This is a book to be read, reread, pondered and shared with others.
Themes: Spiritual life, Solitude, Silence, Hospitality, Prayer, God, Restlessness, God’s Absence, Relationships, Friendship, Loneliness, Competition
Doubleday, 1975
Praise for "Reaching Out"
"It's a simple, straightforward, deep, and dense treatment of the inward, outward, and upward movements of the spiritual life. A must-read, for anyone with an appetite for soul-searching!" -Tim
"Savour this book slowly and meditatively and be nourished by this deep well of inspiring truths that move the heart as well as the mind." -Donner
"I was very thankful for this energizing & thought-provoking quick read. In an age of "me-centered" culture, Reaching Out was both challenging and refreshing." -Ellen