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.

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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.

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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!

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