Henri J.M. Nouwen
HarperSanFrancisco, 96 pages
These are difficult times. The challenge for spiritual communities to be spaces for hope and compassionate action is great. Many pastors and church leaders are ill equipped to lead their congregations through troubled waters. During such times, I believe it’s valuable to return to the classic texts to gain wisdom for the spiritual practices necessary to lead congregations. One resource is the Desert Fathers and Mothers who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries. This text by Henri Nouwen is a set of presentations drawing upon the best of desert spirituality. One might wonder why we should consider spiritual practices from the monastic tradition during a time when the clarion call to resistance is so in need? Nouwen himself writes, “It seems that the darkness is thicker than ever, that the powers of evil more blatantly visible than ever, and that the children of God are being tested more severely than ever.” His advice for such a time is to go deep; return to the primary sources for wisdom and the experience of God that will enable pastors to minister with clarity and strength of heart. Recently a pastor told her congregation, “Do not let them make you hate them.” How does one do that? Nouwen explores three essential practices of the desert that can be practices of faithful resistance for our time: silence, prayer and solitude. The world needs wise, spiritually mature and courageous leaders for our time. This classic will aid that effort.
