In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds. Henri Nouwen More Quotes by Henri Nouwen More Quotes From Henri Nouwen When we no longer pray, no longer listen to the voice of love that speaks to us in the moment, our lives become absurd lives in which we are thrown back and forth between the past and the future. If we could just be, for a few minutes each day, fully where we are, we would indeed discover that we are not alone and that the One who is with us wants only one thing: to give us love Henri Nouwen voice giving past The Church will always be renewed when our attention shifts from ourselves to those who need our care. The blessing of Jesus always comes to us through the poor. The most remarkable experience of those who work with the poor is that, in the end, the poor give more than they receive. They give food to us. Henri Nouwen blessing giving jesus In their poverty, the mentally handicapped reveal God to us and hold us close to the gospel. Henri Nouwen mentally-handicapped handicapped poverty Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning. Henri Nouwen inspirational-long-distance-relationship distance-friendship silence As ministers our greatest temptation is toward too many words. They weaken our faith and make us lukewarm. But silence is a sacred discipline, a guard of the Holy Spirit. Henri Nouwen discipline silence temptation You are a Christian only so long as you constantly pose critical questions to the society you live in, so long as you stay unsatisfied with the status quo, and keep saying that a new world is yet to come. Henri Nouwen christian long world Only in the context of the great encounter with Jesus can a real authentic struggle take place. The encounter with Christ does not take place before, after, or beyond the struggle with our false self and its demons. No, it is precisely in the midst of this struggle that our Lord comes to us and says, as he said to the old man in the story: ‘As soon as you turned to me again, you see I was beside you.’ Henri Nouwen real struggle jesus The real 'work' of prayer is to become silent and listen to the voice that says good things about me. Henri Nouwen voice real prayer Prayer is first of all listening to God. It's openness. God is always speaking; he's always doing something. Prayer is to enter into that activity... Convert your thoughts into prayer. As we are involved in unceasing thinking, so we are called to unceasing prayer. The difference is not that prayer is thinking about other things, but that prayer is thinking in dialogue,... a conversation with God. Henri Nouwen differences prayer thinking It is freeing to become aware that we do not have to be victims of our past and can learn new ways of responding. Forgiveness is love practiced among people who love poorly. It sets us free without wanting anything in return. Henri Nouwen people way past Your heart is greater than your wounds. Henri Nouwen wounds greater heart Asking people for money is giving them the opportunity to put their resources at the disposal of the Kingdom. Henri Nouwen opportunity giving people Prayer is the breath of your life which gives you the freedom to go and stay where you wish and to find the many signs which point out the way to a new land. Henri Nouwen land prayer life People who read your ideas tend to think that your writings reflect your life. Henri Nouwen writing ideas thinking While my friend always spoke about the sun, I kept speaking about the clouds, until one day I realized that it was the sun that allowed me to see the clouds. Henri Nouwen one-day sun clouds Aging does not need to be hidden or denied, but can be understood, affirmed and experienced as a process of growth by which the mystery of life is slowly revealed to us. Henri Nouwen growth age doe The Question is not how much are you going to accomplish? Or can you show some results? But are you in love with Jesus? In our world of brokeness and despair, there is an enormous need for men and women who know the heart of God; a heart that forgives, cares, reaches out and wants to heal. Henri Nouwen heart men jesus The soul of the artist cannot remain hidden. Henri Nouwen artist soul In solitude we become aware that our worth is not the same as our usefulness. Henri Nouwen usefulness solitude You are the heir to the Kingdom. Prosperity is your birth right and you hold the key to more abundance in every area of your life then you can possibly imagine. Henri Nouwen heirs keys kingdoms