You are here100502 Henri Nouwen pp. 82-86
100502 Henri Nouwen pp. 82-86
Here are this week's questions. If they don't speak to you about this passage and you see something different that you want to point out to the rest of the group, feel free to go in a different direction. I believe that's what this discussion is all about - each of us contributing from our own viewpoint and thus enriching the group as a whole.
1. Henri Nouwen refers to the twofold nature of the spiritual life: it is both a gift and hard work on our part. How has your journey been like receiving a gift? In what ways has it been hard work?
2. We engage in the spiritual disciplines, writes Nouwen, in order to "prevent the world from filling our lives to such an extent that there is no place left to listen." What things are currently filling your life and preventing you from listening?
3. Solitude, according to Nouwen, creates space for God, but it also removes our protective distractions, forcing us to deal with our inner chaos. Why does this make solitude all the more important for us?
4. The thoughts that bombard us during times of solitude may be compared with visitors who are no longer welcome. How does Nouwen use this analogy to help us feel encouraged as we do battle with distractions?
5. God could have spoken to Elijah in the violent wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but instead chose to speak in a still small voice. How has God used silence to speak to you?
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I am finding some kind of theme running through a lot of these readings that has to do with eliminating distractions and finding time alone. For many of these writers (I would even say all), they have no responsibilities except to themselves. So finding time alone is just self-discipline. But what about the parents, in particular single parents of this world? Now that my children are no longer at home, I can say that I am actually finding some time for myself, but for many years, there was no alone time and the only way I could find any was to forgo sleep and that just isn't a good plan. Even if you do, one ear is still trained to listen for sounds from the kids' rooms to make sure they are OK.
So where is the message for single working parents with small children? Sure you can ask for help - I've tried that, could any more guilt be added to pile I already carry? Shouldn't we as a community of faith, if we really believe in the value of alone time, seek out those who need it and offer our help to free them up so that they can engage in solitary practice?
End of rant.
Amen to that! Truthfully I thought the terrible twos would be the worst of it. I have no idea why I thought the teen years would grant me the dreamed of promise land. I hear once they leave home they generally come back too! Sometimes the only solitude I get is when I play my own music louder than theirs. [Then I sing loud and off-tune just for emphasis - a bit of payback]
I liked the section titled From an Absurd to an Obedient Life. Noumen tells us that the word absurd has its root in the word deaf, and that obedience has its roots in the word listen. Pretty interesting. I have noticed that I can walk along the creek and completely miss the beauty of my surroundings because of the noise in my own head. As I chatter to myself stress builds and even this walk through paradise is filled with worry and anxiety. It’s the everydayness of the creek mostly, because I have also noticed that when I am walking somewhere less familiar it is much harder to miss the bounty of nature. For this reason, I have been trying to approach my little creek as if it were a new experience each time. Eventually paradise makes its appearance, a bit like a determined juggler earnestly performing daring feats, jumping through hoops, competing with my anxiety and vying for my attention,. This juggler persists, tossing each spectacular illumination by the corner of my eye, until the minor details of my peripheral vision finally take center stage. Then the birds come back seeming like they just now arrived, the sounds of children laughing awaken as if emerging from silence, dogs retrieving sticks splash through the water from out of nowhere, water washes over rocks as if a faucet has just now been turned, the ferns begin waving as if newly unfurled out of the ground, the trees creak, the wind washes over my skin like a wave hello, etc, etc, etc.