Nouwen describes the book Life of the Beloved as the fruit of a long standing friendship. As I sit and write about my reaction to the prologue the improbable relationship and its long and fruitful results are what come to mind. How often do we meet someone and more, see what they could be…..
Nouwen describes Fred as “behind the mask of indifference, a spirit fully alive – eager to learn and to create. …. I was face to face with a man full of great personal gifts, anxiously searching for a way to use them.” (12) Okay I want to be seen that way too – and to be able to reflect back when I see each of you that way too --- damn what a gift. The novel Fred hoped to write never came to be, but the book we are discussing here did come to fruition.
I find myself looking at the diversity of the backgrounds, and the ties over time that held them together questioning and sharing the experience of life together. Yeah, I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of friends like that. You know what I mean, the friends who can step back into your life 10, 15, 20 years later and you simply pick up where you left off. The questions of meaning and purpose may get reframed, but there is a shared history and an ability to know each other.
Deep desire….pains of rejection and separation….desire for intimacy and friendship…desire for a common spiritual foundation…(19) Okay no one who signed up to read and write along here has any of those things going on…BG… I’m realizing that the secular world that seems so separated in the prologue is no different than the struggle those of us trying to follow a spiritual journey encounter. But I’m going to need a little more time to think about the risk reward thing in reaching out to the other in intimacy.
“Who am I to talk about those things? …My own life is too small for that…” (23) Okay there goes the last excuse for sharing reactions about the book. He went and answered the objection in the prologue. We’ve been invited to walk down to the river and simply share the journey…. What spoke to you?
Nouwen describes Fred as “behind the mask of indifference, a spirit fully alive – eager to learn and to create. …. I was face to face with a man full of great personal gifts, anxiously searching for a way to use them.” (12) Okay I want to be seen that way too – and to be able to reflect back when I see each of you that way too --- damn what a gift. The novel Fred hoped to write never came to be, but the book we are discussing here did come to fruition.
I find myself looking at the diversity of the backgrounds, and the ties over time that held them together questioning and sharing the experience of life together. Yeah, I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of friends like that. You know what I mean, the friends who can step back into your life 10, 15, 20 years later and you simply pick up where you left off. The questions of meaning and purpose may get reframed, but there is a shared history and an ability to know each other.
Deep desire….pains of rejection and separation….desire for intimacy and friendship…desire for a common spiritual foundation…(19) Okay no one who signed up to read and write along here has any of those things going on…BG… I’m realizing that the secular world that seems so separated in the prologue is no different than the struggle those of us trying to follow a spiritual journey encounter. But I’m going to need a little more time to think about the risk reward thing in reaching out to the other in intimacy.
“Who am I to talk about those things? …My own life is too small for that…” (23) Okay there goes the last excuse for sharing reactions about the book. He went and answered the objection in the prologue. We’ve been invited to walk down to the river and simply share the journey…. What spoke to you?
Fr. Nouwen certainly showed great insight when, in such a short period of time, he saw a spirit fully alive with great personal gifts. But, I'm afraid that I, like Fred wouldn't have paid too much attention when someone I had met 30 minutes before suggested that I quit my job and write a novel. Fr. Nouwen gave Fred a great gift when he provided the means, a scholarship in residence, for Fred to attempt to write a novel. True, the novel never was written, but Fred did not go through life in a job that didn't fullfill him thinking he should be writing a novel. Sometimes there is nothing we can do for someone but empathize with their situation, but perhaps more often than we think, we may have practical help for someone on a journey.
ReplyDeleteIn the recent past, I was blessed by the insights of a friend. We were talking about the paths we take in life, those in the past present and future, when I remarked, by way of factual statement, not complaint, that I knew that I could no longer practice law. She immediately responded "but that's not your ministry anymore", and pointed out to me a series of things I can do. I hadn't been thinking of my life in those terms, and this was a gracious gift.
"but that's not your ministry anymore...."
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift that phrase is ! Looking back on all the assorted jobs, gifts, ministries, assignments, etc that I've been given there seems to be a evolution of sorts. some things you have to give up to stretch your wings at others. And as much as raising little ones was what I was supposed to do at one time. It surely is not where I am headed today... Even if I'm not always so sure where that is...