Wise words

I’ve been reading a little book called The Inner Voice of Love by Henri Nouwen. It contains meditations Nouwen wrote while suffering from a “dark night of the soul”. It was recommended to me by a pastor who knew my faith has felt tremulous.

It's as if Nouwen peeked into my heart and wrote these words to me. I find myself re-reading certain passages, hoping to imbed them in my mind and heart—hoping to believe that such freeing truths could be, well, true.

This book addresses the inner work which I believe we all must do, if we hope to grow in our spirituality. Nouwen identifies universal fears and—while writing to comfort and reassure himself—offers comfort and reassurance to the reader.

Nouwen writes about gratuitous love. This is love freely given to others, without the expectation that they will return it, but with the knowledge that all expressed love will flow back eventually. The recipient of your love may not be the giver, and that’s okay. It is still right and good to give love freely. And it will come back.

I long to be free of the mind games we play with each other. I must believe that—with God’s help—I can thrive without expecting others to fill my empty spaces. I long for total acceptance of myself and others. But I have such a long journey still. And I feel so vulnerable.

Nouwen’s words point me in the right direction. They are salve on my sore spots. They are dewdrops of grace.

If this resonates with you, I suggest that you read Nouwen. You may find a voice that speaks right to your soul.