The resistance to praying is like the resistance of tightly clenched fists. This image shows a tension, a desire to cling tightly to yourself, a greediness which betrays fear. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
Ministry is the least important thing. You cannot not minister if you are in communion with God and live in community. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
To be a minister means above all to become powerless, or in more precise terms, to speak with our powerlessness to the condition of powerlessness which is so keenly felt but so seldom expressed by the people of our age. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
Our efforts to disconnect ourselves from our own suffering end up disconnecting our suffering from God’s suffering for us. The way out of our loss and hurt is in and through. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
I’ve had a tremendous problem with depression in my life. I’d rather not talk about it, because it’s over. But depression is real. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
How much longer will I live?’… Only one thing seems clear to me. Every day should be well-lived. What a simple truth! Still, it is worthy of my attention. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
People with handicaps teach me that being is more important than doing, the heart is more important than the mind, and caring together is better than caring alone. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
Our glory is hidden in our pain, if we allow God to bring the gift of himself in our experience of it. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
In solitude we become aware that we were together before we came together and that life is not a creation of our will but rather an obedient response to the reality of our being united. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
When we have nothing to cling to as our own and cease thinking of ourselves as people who must defend privileges, we can open ourselves freely to others with the faithful expectation that our strength will manifest itself in our shared weakness. Henri Nouwen Read Quote
