That's the temptation of the devil: "Turn stones into bread! Be relevant!" Henri Nouwen More Quotes by Henri Nouwen More Quotes From Henri Nouwen In God's eyes the most significant is often the most hidden. Henri Nouwen significant eye Ministry in no way is a privilege...it is the core of the Christian life. No Christian is a Christian without being a minister. Henri Nouwen privilege christian way What is forgotten cannot be healed, and that which cannot be healed easily becomes the cause of greater evil. Henri Nouwen causes evil forgotten Our brokenness has no other beauty but the beauty that comes from the compassion that surrounds it. Henri Nouwen brokenness surround compassion Life is a gift, not to possess, but to share. Henri Nouwen life-is-a-gift life-is joy Do not tell everyone your story. You will only end up feeling more rejected. People cannot give you what you long for in your heart. The more you expect from people's response to your experience of abandonment, the more you will feel exposed to ridicule. Henri Nouwen heart long people Fear is the great enemy of intimacy. Fear makes us run away from each other or cling to each other but does not create true intimacy. Henri Nouwen doe running enemy Jesus invites us to abide in his love. That means to dwell with all that I am in him. It is an invitation to a total belonging, to full intimacy, to an unlimited being-with. The light of the Spirit reveals to us that love conquers all fear. Henri Nouwen spiritual mean jesus This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits. Henri Nouwen simple sound people Life is not a possession to be defended, but a gift to be shared. Henri Nouwen possession life-is life The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy. Henri Nouwen gratitude thanksgiving discipline a spiritual life without prayer is like the gospel without Christ. Henri Nouwen prayer spiritual christ The pain that comes from deep love makes your love more fruitful. It is like a plow that breaks the ground to allow the seed to take root. Henri Nouwen deep-love pain roots Yes, it's a competitive world, but where is your heart? Henri Nouwen heart world There is nothing so important in the family as the sacred quality of the meal. Henri Nouwen quality meals important When you are still young and not yet adult, you want to hold everything in your own hands, but if you have your hands open toward prayer, you are able to stretch out your arms and let yourself be led without knowing where. You know only the freedom which God's breath has brought you will lead to new life, even if the cross is the only sign of it you can see. Henri Nouwen knowing prayer hands The third discipline is community. Whom do you choose as your companions? Whom do you choose to be friends with, to live with? Are they people who love you, and care for you, and nurture you? Henri Nouwen discipline love-you people when the imitation of Christ does not mean to live a life like Christ, but to live your life as authentically as Christ lived his, then there are many ways and forms in which a man can be a Christian. Henri Nouwen christian men mean Real greatness is often hidden, humble, simple, and unobtrusive. It is not easy to trust ourselves and our actions without public affirmation. We must have strong self-confidence combined with deep humility. Henri Nouwen strong humility real Forgiveness means that I continually am willing to forgive the other person for not being God — for not fulfilling all my needs. I, too, must ask forgiveness for not being able to fulfill other people's needs. … The interesting thing is that when you can forgive people for not being God, then you can celebrate that they are a reflection of God. Henri Nouwen reflection mean people