New Wanderings of Dr Ben: August 2010

Monday, August 23, 2010

August 23, 2010 - The Quality of Life] Reflections by Henri Nouwen

Since my successful fight against cancer 10 years ago, I've taken this advice very much to heart.

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

The Quality of Life

It is very hard to accept an early death. When friends die who are seventy, eighty, or ninety years old, we may be in deep grief and miss them very much, but we are grateful that they had long lives. But when a teenager, a young adult, or a person at the height of his or her career dies, we feel a protest rising from our hearts: "Why? Why so soon? Why so young? It is unfair."

But far more important than our quantity of years is the quality of our lives. Jesus died young. St. Francis died young. St. Thérèse of Lisieux died young, Martin Luther King, Jr., died young. We do not know how long we will live, but this not knowing calls us to live every day, every week, every year of our lives to its fullest potential.

Share your thoughts on this reflection. These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.

Visit HenriNouwen.org for more inspiration!

Posted via email from drben54's posterous

Thursday, August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010 - Meeting God in the Poor - Thoughts from Henri Nouwen

I was the person Fr. Nouwen describes. It took the complete loss of health, wealth, home and companionship to jump start my spirituality and refocus my perspective..

Now, like Job, much has been restored to me. But now, I never will forget that time of trial-- when I work as a Chaplain, or repair a computer to donate to a needy kid, or work in a large event at Church.

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Meeting God in the Poor

When we are not afraid to confess our own poverty, we will be able to be with other people in theirs. The Christ who lives in our own poverty recognises the Christ who lives in other people's. Just as we are inclined to ignore our own poverty, we are inclined to ignore others'. We prefer not to see people who are destitute, we do not like to look at people who are deformed or disabled, we avoid talking about people's pains and sorrows, we stay away from brokenness, helplessness, and neediness.

By this avoidance we might lose touch with the people through whom God is manifested to us. But when we have discovered God in our own poverty, we will lose our fear of the poor and go to them to meet God.

Share your thoughts on this reflection. These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.

Visit HenriNouwen.org for more inspiration!

Posted via email from drben54's posterous