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This is a tiny book. I wanted to read it quickly. To prove to myself that I am, in fact, a fast reader worthy of my looming stacks of unread books. I couldn’t, though. Reading was like holding a hot cup of coffee with a broken handle. Every few moments I need to set it down, regroup, meditate, then dive back in.
Nouwen has this amazing way of drawing you in with words that seem basic, and then gradually deepening their meaning until they no longer resemble what you first understood them to mean. He uses words like movie directors use characters, developing and evolving them over time. They don’t change, they just…mature. I think of the words he uses here. “Wounds.” “Loneliness.” “Love.”
There’s a lot of loneliness in this book. From his definitions of growing generational loneliness (which, I’d argue, is just as true today as when he wrote it) to his surprisingly painful depiction of loneliness in ministry. He doesn’t offer any simple antidotes for loneliness, which as a pastor, I can say is a huge struggle for me. Who doesn’t want to immediately point out a silver lining in someone’s rainy and depressing day? I sure do.
Instead he paints a picture of hope that doesn’t take the wounds away, but gives them a redemptive touch while we wait for the great Healer to do what He does best. It’s a hopeful book that doesn’t feel removed from real life pains.
For such a small book, I’m bummed that I will 100% need to revisit it often to really get everything out of it. I’m sure this will be a blow to my confidence as a fast and efficient reader. I think that’s alright though.
Nouwen has this amazing way of drawing you in with words that seem basic, and then gradually deepening their meaning until they no longer resemble what you first understood them to mean. He uses words like movie directors use characters, developing and evolving them over time. They don’t change, they just…mature. I think of the words he uses here. “Wounds.” “Loneliness.” “Love.”
There’s a lot of loneliness in this book. From his definitions of growing generational loneliness (which, I’d argue, is just as true today as when he wrote it) to his surprisingly painful depiction of loneliness in ministry. He doesn’t offer any simple antidotes for loneliness, which as a pastor, I can say is a huge struggle for me. Who doesn’t want to immediately point out a silver lining in someone’s rainy and depressing day? I sure do.
Instead he paints a picture of hope that doesn’t take the wounds away, but gives them a redemptive touch while we wait for the great Healer to do what He does best. It’s a hopeful book that doesn’t feel removed from real life pains.
For such a small book, I’m bummed that I will 100% need to revisit it often to really get everything out of it. I’m sure this will be a blow to my confidence as a fast and efficient reader. I think that’s alright though.
