Nouwen, as always, heals the heart and guides the mind to greater thoughts of what it truly means to be whole as a person, helpful as a neighbor, and worshipful towards God.

Knyga apie krikščionišką dvasingumą, tai lyg įvadas-pradžiamokslis. Dažnai žmonės ieško kažko didesnio, dieviškumo savyje ar kitų antgamtinių dalykų. O čia kalbama apie žmogaus vidinį vienišumą, priešiškumą sau ir kitiems, iliuziją ir maldos galią.

Labai naudinga, praktiška ir paprastai, aiškiai parašyta knyga.

I think this is probably a much better book than I experienced as I read it. My sense is that in a different season of life or mind-frame I would gain much more from it. It won't hold me back from reaching for more Henri Nouwen books, though.

This is the 4th Nouwen work that I’ve read and as usual, I am never disappointed. This book gracefully paints a picture of how we can attend to our loneliness, hostilities and illusions...and slowly, how they can be converted into solitude, hospitality, and prayer. Rich, profound, and thought-provoking, Reaching Out would be a great retreat companion and also has dozens of mini “retreat” expressions which can only deepen our spiritual lives when taken to prayer.

Amazing! This book spoke with pointed accuracy into what has been going on in my life and mind over the past two years.

There are so many excellent quotes in this work of Nouwen. I found his approach to solitude to be liberating and validating of my experience. Much of what he said about community and creating space for the other sink really deep in me. I enjoyed some of what he said about being a community of prayer & waiting very much.

Highly, highly recommend!!

A quote from the foreword has remained in my mind: ‘neither parents nor teachers nor counsellors can do much more than provide a free and friendly space where one must discover their own, lonely way.’

Recommended by Emily. Mentions education and parenting.

More like 4.5. My first Nouwen book, and certainly not my last. Nouwen's writing here is full of simple wisdom, helpful illustrations, and poignant memories. The first movement on loneliness struck my heart particularly deeply. Definitely recommend to anyone struggling with the movement from loneliness to solitude, and those who desire to more intentionally press into the tenderness, gentleness, and joy of communion and prayer with God.

“Those who do not run away from our pains but touch them with compassion bring healing and new strength. The paradox indeed is that the beginning of healing is in the solidarity with the pain.”

The author speaks a lot of wisdom within this book and I like his honesty when it comes to his own journey in the practices he is speaking of. Will definitely need to read again though as I feel there was so much good stuff in it that I didn’t take it all in !!

Yes, it took me some time to complete reading this little book, however, it wasn't a book that you could breeze through.

You need to contemplate what you are reading and then reflect. Almost like recalculating your mind, body and soul. I enjoyed this book and it helped with my current path in life.

There are paths that we are all on at the moment and every once and awhile we need to stop and just breathe and say a small prayer of gratitude and reflect.

While all three of the movements are worth reading, I most enjoyed Nouwen’s take on the movement from loneliness to solitude. Living your questions, entering the desert of compassion, becoming alert to ourselves and our world— all this (and more) makes me long to “perceive and understand this world from a quiet inner center...”

Ontzettend mooi en 50 jaar later nog steeds/weer actueel

Jezus gebed stukje raakte me enorm als biddend antwoord op de klimaatramp.

Great book of practical Christian spirituality. Nouwen divides the Christian spiritual life into three movements, from isolation and into solitude, from hostility and into hospitality, and from illusion into prayer. Each movement receives three short chapters that explain the movement and give practical advice for achieving it.

This book is unquestionably modern. While Nouwen was Catholic and steeped in the Tradition of the Church, he himself was a modern man and in this book is interested in personal enlightenment. If you are at the beginning of a spiritual journey, this book is an excellent place to start. But you should not end here. It is too simplistic and too distanced from his own life to be of real service as you go deeper into spiritual life.