I have recently been introduced to Henri Nouwen and his works. Henri Nouwen was a Dutch Priest who, among many other accomplishments, worked with Jean Vanier at L'Arche. I had mentioned Jean Vanier and L'Arche in a <a href="http://allseasons.typepad.com/allseasons/2003/12/becoming_human.html">recent post</a>.
This is what I love about the internet and blogs .... someone happened along my weblog, read this post, and emailed me this link to a site about <a href="http://nouwen.net">Henri Nouwen</a>. This is a wonderful site - apart from having a wealth of information about Henri Nouwen, it has a daily inspirational message. The messages are taken from a book written by Henri Nouwen called 'Bread For The Journey'. The message changes daily and does not appear to be an archived. The message for today is wonderful and has to do with living the present moment to the fullest.
The same new connection has also taught me some new things about the beloved mural that I have pictured here on my site .... opening my eyes to details I had not noticed. (Thanks Cees!) For me, this is what the internet and weblogs are all about .. how else would it be possible to learn and interact in this way.
What I love about blogging is that great reminders also emerge. I own two Henri Nouwen books and at least one is worth re-reading this winter...they are sitting right here next to me as I type:
"Life of the Beloved, Spiritual Living in a Secular World" (my mom gave to me)
"Gracias! A Latin American Journal" (I read in college before going to Tijuana on a community service trip)
I'm going to check out the website right now...thanks for rekindling an interest. It's addicitve, this sharing and learning, huh?
Posted by: Kelly | January 06, 2004 at 12:39 AM
That's so great ... Cees - your influence continues.
Posted by: wendy | January 06, 2004 at 01:01 AM
Me again...I just came across this quote by Nouwen that relates in a way to what you were saying about the "fruits" of blogging; I just had to jump back online and share it before heading off to sleep:
"Hospitality:
...means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend
...is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place
...is the liberation of fearful hearts so that words can find roots and bear ample fruit."
Posted by: Kelly | January 06, 2004 at 01:05 AM
I love that ... thank you so much for sharing it. It reminds me again how glad I am for the blogging world and the friends I've met this way. It is a blessing.
Posted by: wendy | January 06, 2004 at 01:23 AM
This is beautiful! Is it a Christian site or a site for all faiths?
Posted by: Rose | January 10, 2004 at 03:13 PM
Well, its a Christian site - Henri Nouwen was a Catholic priest. I'm not really religious in the organized religion kind of way, but, I find most of what I've seen there helpful - in the spiritual/wisdom sense. I looked at the book 'Bread for the Journey' in the bookstore today and found some of it quite 'Catholic' and other parts of it more generic. I guess it doesn't matter in the end what religion the teaching is from if you get something from it?
Posted by: wendy | January 10, 2004 at 07:49 PM