From Longing to Belonging: Carlos Thompson on Finding Home in God and One Another
What does it mean to find home in a wounded world?
In this deeply moving episode of Now and Then ...Again, host Wendy VanderWal Martin welcomes Dr. Carlos Thompson, professor of Christian Ministry and Disability at Western Theological Seminary and steward of the Friendship House Fellows Program. Fresh from his keynote address at the Henri Nouwen Society’s international conference, Longing for Home: The Prophetic Witness of Henri Nouwen in a Wounded World, Carlos reflects on the enduring wisdom of Henri Nouwen and the surprising places where God meets us.
Drawing from Nouwen’s vision of the “wounded healer,” Carlos explores why our deepest longings cannot be fulfilled through achievement, expertise, or self-sufficiency. Instead, home is something we receive—not create. Through stories of community, disability, friendship, and faith, he offers a powerful invitation to embrace vulnerability, honor our human neediness, and become fellow travelers with one another.
This conversation challenges the myth of independence and reveals how belonging is discovered in relationship—with God and with others. Thoughtful, honest, and hope-filled, it is a rich exploration of what it means to slow down, “waste time” with Jesus, and discover that the very needs we try to hide may be the doorway to divine belonging.
If you long for deeper connection, this episode is for you.
Resources & Links
Western Theological Seminary: https://www.westernsem.edu/
Friendship House: https://www.westernsem.edu/beyond-the-classroom/friendship-house/
Bio and Contact for Carlos: https://www.westernsem.edu/faculty/thompson/
Book Discussed:
Wounded Healer
Finding Our Way Home
