The first few chapters hold some contemporary relevance for ministry today but it’s the last chapter that is an absolute goldmine. Every minister should take the time to ponder over how our weaknesses & loneliness actually can become our greatest ally as Nouwen shows.

This book surprised me. Although it was written 50 years ago, it felt so relevant and in touch with today's society and difficulties. Nouman writes with a broken and humble voice. He breaks down complicated psychology into bite-sized pieces that are easy to understand and digest. Although I'm not sure that I agreed with everything he had to say, or understood it, I felt myself pondering his insights. Topics I found interesting: the universal human condition of loneliness, how to seek authentic connection with those who are hurting through the transparency of your own wounds, the challenges of living in a era of unconnectedness to history and the lack of roots we experience while living without local community...and much more. Although originally written for the intended reader of a young minister, I thought there was application for Christians alike. I'm interested to read some of his other works.

Good book. That’s all.

The back cover says this book is "profoundly simple," and I think this means I should come back to it at another stage of my life when it may resonate more.

"Christian leaders are, therefore, first of all, those who are willing to put their own articulated faith at the disposal of those who ask for help" (45).

"Pastoral conversation... is a deep human encounter in which people are willing to put their own faith and doubt, their own hope and despair, their own light and darkness at the disposal of others who want to find a way through their confusion and touch the solid core of life" (46).

"We can discover... the basic principles of Christian leadership: first, personal concern, which asks people to give their lives for others; second, a deep-rooted faith in the value and meaning of life, even when days look dark; and third, an outgoing hope that always loooks for tomorrow, even beyond the moment of death" (78).

"What does hospitality as a healing power require?... Hospitality embraces two concepts: concentration and community.... When loneliness is among the chief wounds of the minister, hospitality can convert that wound into a source of healing. Concentration [meditation, contemplation] prevents ministers from burdening others with their pain and allows them to accept their wounds as helpful teachers of their own and their neighbour's condition. Community arises where the sharing of pain takes place, not as a stifling form of self-complaint, but as a recognition of God's saving promises" (97, 102).

I am grateful for this man’s vision. I felt seen, challenged and encouraged. He demonstrates in his own words “Indeed, the paradox of Christian leadership is that the way out is also the way in, that only by entering into communion with human suffering can relief be found.” God give us strength for the task.

I like how every chapter is systematically introducing ideas, then explaining and concluding them at the end. Some of those ideas such as the difference between nuclear and prenuclear man or what are the challenges to hospitality in todays world are new for me and I find their definition here understandable and relatable.

“The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.”

Even though this book is 40 years old, it remains a poignant and applicable guide to ministry today. Rather than embracing a typical style of leadership full of projected strength and bravado, Henri Nouwen presents a picture of a leader full of brokenness more able to lead people to Jesus.

In a time where people flock to narcissist, celebrity leaders, even within Christianity, the Wounded Healer calls any and all ministers to turn up their pain and brokenness rather than their audacious strength. Nouwen highlights the Christ-likeness of a “man well acquainted with sorrow” and insists that ministers willing to enter into the pain of others will bring people to Jesus far more than those unwilling to connect with those wounds.

Why four stars? The book is divided into four sections, and honestly the first section is pretty dated. It is a lengthy treatise on the state of society within the Cold War era. To be sure there is overlap, but it’s hard to connect with a pre-internet culture in the age of TikTok.

The last two sections in particular are fire. If you serve in any sort of Ministerial capacity, make this little book a priority in your reading queue.

An essential read for those inspired to serve others with the attitude of Christ. Nouwen effectively undermines the 'how' of compassion, mercy, empathy, and love and cuts to the 'why' - to the motive for our care for others. In so doing, he brings us to the heart of Christ, discussing the universal pain of being a healer, and drawing readers into the significance and value of what it means to be present to those in pain, suffering, and loss. For me personally, it added great meaning to some of the relationships I have.

4 stars. As always, Nouwen's insight into spirituality and the human person make this a must-read. He helps wounded people feel seen by him and Jesus, and then goes a step further by challenging us to use our pain as a source of life and hospitality for other hurting people with sharp edges.

I really liked this book, but the reason I gave it 4 stars was because, for an 100 page book, I feel like it was twice as long as it could've been. Nouwen states that the 4 chapters in this book are 4 essays he wrote generally on the same topic, clarifying and focusing more closely as the essays go on. Because of that, chapters 1 and 2 are good, but chapters 3 and 4 are worth the price of admission and make the first two chapters nearly obsolete, aside from a handful of references that would be unclear without them.

I had never heard of Henri Nouwen, but a classmate recommended this book. At first I didn't like it. Nouwen's introduction felt weird and a little off to me. I understood what he was trying to get at, but how he got there just wasn't that great in my opinion. And, as the book progressed he uses next to no Scripture quotations and only a few allusions.

However, as I got into the middle of the book my respect for it started to build, and as the book ended, I do have an appreciation of it. Nouwen approaches things just different enough, that once I got past the things that I felt were weird (mostly), then the rest I found helpful and though provoking. I especially appreciated his description and applications surrounding leadership.

A short, moving reflection on what is needed to reach those alienated in modernity. It is interesting to look at a book written 50 years ago to see what is still relevant (and what is no longer).

Probably my least favorite Nouwen book I've read so far? Which isn't saying much, because the other books I've read have moved me to tears.

I'm not sure what I expected. I thought based off the title that this book would be more of a reflection of how Christ heals humanity through his wounds. But it's more about how ministry in today's context requires starting from the position of our woundedness. I did like the reflection on the "Nuclear man" and very much saw myself within that description. But idk, I didn't connect as much with this book as his others.