Nouwen Then: Personal Reflections on Henri

When Henri Nouwen died on September 26, 1996, he left behind a legacy of love and hope to ministers striving to offer a gracious word to the suffering. In his book The Wounded Healer, Nouwen poignantly and powerfully laid open his own heart and soul to share the message that pastors could not be very effective as healers without embracing their own suffering. Nouwen's book, and the ones that followed, touched millions of lives. His work with the severely handicapped at L'Arche, in France and at Toronto's Daybreak continued his own ministry of love and hope. De Vinck gathers the reflections of several writers and pastors on the meaning that Nouwen has brought to their lives. For example, Tim Jones (The Art of Prayer) notes that Nouwen's writings, especially his journals and his writings on prayer, helped him to realize that he ""knew [he] had permission to speak not as a spiritual genius but as a soul who was simply, imperfectly seeking God."" Fred Rogers (a.k.a. ""Mr. Rogers"") reflects on his personal relationship with Nouwen and on the ways in which Nouwen ""encouraged [him] to grow into a thoughtful person who cares about the essentials of life."" Other contributors meditate on Nouwen's influence on their lives as they met him through his books or on his direct influence through their personal relationships with him. Together these reflections are a celebration of the memory of a great teacher whose life was a testimony to his teachings on compassion and faith. (June)