Stories

Every human has a unique story to tell, and when we listen to one another's stories with love and care, we begin to see the hand of God at work in our lives. - Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

The Voice of Love

I have held you in the hollow of my hand and whispered to you, "Don't be afraid, I am with you." That is the voice of love, and it alone can conquer the voice of fear. - Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love

Pain and Healing

There are two extremes to avoid: being completely absorbed in your pain, and being distracted by so many things that you stay far away from the wound you want to heal. - Henri Nouwen

Neighbors

Our neighbors are not interruptions of our lives but the very reason we are here. - Henri Nouwen

Friendship

Friendship is being with the other in joy and sorrow, even when we cannot increase the joy or decrease the sorrow. - Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

Like Breathing

Paul does not ask us to spend some of every day in prayer. No, Paul is much more radical. He asks us to pray day and night, in joy and in sorrow, at work and at play, without intermission or breaks. For Paul, prayer is like breathing. - Henri Nouwen

Fully Known and Loved

What a joy to be fully known and fully loved at the same time! - Henri Nouwen

Grateful

Every time we decide to be grateful it will be easier to see new things to be grateful for. Gratitude begets gratitude just as love begets love. - Henri Nouwen

Friend

The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing...not healing, not curing...that is a friend. - Henri Nouwen

Wounded Healers

Henri Nouwen says that we are all "wounded healers," inferring that we all have the most potential to heal others in the areas in which we ourselves have needed and experienced healing. This spiritual principle is captured in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. - Tracy Klehn

Gentleness

Gentle is the one who does "not break the crushed reed, or snuff the faltering wick" (Matthew 12:20). Gentle is the one who is attentive to the strengths and weaknesses of the other and enjoys being together more than accomplishing something. A gentle person treads lightly, listens carefully, looks tenderly, and touches with reverence. A gentle person knows that true growth requires nurture, not force. Let's dress ourselves with gentleness. In our tough and often unbending world our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us. - Henri Nouwen

Hope

Hope means to keep living amid desperation, and to keep humming even in the darkness. - Henri Nouwen

Choose Joy

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it everyday. - Henri Nouwen

Attention

Make a conscious choice to "move the attention of your anxious heart away from the waves (of troubles or feelings of fear or pity) to the One who walks on waves and says, "It's me. Don't be afraid." - Cheri Fuller quoting Henri Nouwen