Week 1 - Advent with Henri

Week 1 - Advent with Henri

“In The Return of the Prodigal Son, Nouwen lets go of the compulsion to run away from difficulties, to hold on to fear, to cling to resentment and childish fantasies.  By letting all go he comes home to himself.  Gradually, he steps into an entirely new way of being.”  (Henri Nouwen and the Return of the Prodigal Son: The Making of a Spiritual Classic, p.7).

 Welcome to Advent with Henri! The Paraclete Press team and I look forward to creating a virtual community where we discover and reflect on Henri Nouwen’s spiritual wisdom. May it be a time of transformation and readying for Christmas and for the new start that 2021 offers. 

For our discussion this year, we are focusing on Henri Nouwen’s most popular book The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming and my deep dive into how it was written: Henri Nouwen and the Return of the Prodigal Son: The Making of a Spiritual Classic. These books trace Nouwen’s deepening awareness of God’s infinite love in his life.  “At the end of the book, Nouwen is not perfect, nor is the journey over, but he has been changed.” (p.7). This time together is our chance to reflect on our own return to God’s love.  Over the next four weeks, we will look at the themes of Waiting, Winter, Hope and Renewal.  I will draw out insights from Nouwen’s book and my own, as well as speak to special guests to deepen our reflection. 

Let’s briefly describe how our online book discussion works. 

Beginning today, and for each Tuesday in Advent, you will receive an email with a short reflection for the week.  The reflection will be followed by questions to help deepen your experience. You are invited and encouraged to share your responses or make comments of your own by adding to the blog.

To begin our Advent journey, we’d like to invite you to introduce yourself.  You might tell us where you live and what draws you to this book discussion.

You will get the most out of the discussion if you have read both books ahead of time (they are short!), but it is not necessary.  You can purchase Henri Nouwen and the Return of the Prodigal Son here and The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen here.

Welcome to each of you and I look forward to your introductions.  If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask either by submitting a comment or sending me an email at the address below.

Your companion,

Gabrielle

 

Gabrielle Earnshaw is the founding archivist of the Henri J. M. Nouwen Archives and Research Collection at the University of St. Michael’s College, a position she held from 2000 to 2016. She has edited four posthumous works by Henri Nouwen and is the author of Henri Nouwen and The Return of the Prodigal Son: The Making of a Spiritual Classic. An Nouwen expert Gabrielle leads retreats and workshops on Nouwen and his spirituality in North America and Europe. 

 

 

 

Advent Theme Week 1 - Waiting

There is a tremendous amount of waiting in our lives generally, but this year it seems that all we are doing is waiting – waiting for the lockdown to end, waiting for the pandemic to end, waiting for COVID test results, waiting for a friend to recover from the virus, waiting for a vaccine, waiting for election results.  We might call 2020 the year of anxious waiting.  There is another kind of waiting however.  It is Advent waiting.  Henri Nouwen puts it this way:

“Waiting is essential to the spiritual life. But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting. It is a waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we are waiting for. We wait during Advent for the birth of Jesus…Waiting for God is an active, alert – yes, joyful – waiting. As we wait we remember him for whom we are waiting, and as we remember him we create a community ready to welcome him when he comes.” (Nouwen, Bread for the Journey)

Consider the Father in the parable of the Return of the Prodigal Son.  He has been waiting for his youngest son for a long time.  He could have used the interval to stew, to get angry, to build up resentment (which is what his older son did) but instead, the Father practiced Advent waiting. He used the time apart to prepare his heart for  a joyful reunion, and, when the day came, as he knew it would, he was ready.  He ran out of the house to greet his son, meeting him right there in the here and now, no questions asked.  No explanations necessary. 

As we begin our Advent walk with Henri Nouwen as companion, perhaps each of us can reflect on our own style of waiting.  Some other questions we might consider:

 

  1. What are you waiting for right now? How are you waiting?

  2. How might you prepare your hearts to receive people who have hurt you?

 

An additional thought for your consideration:

As I was preparing for this reflection it came to me that perhaps at this moment in time, at the beginning of our journey together, the most important thing we can glean from Henri Nouwen and his book The Return of the Prodigal Son is the value of a collapse.  Let me explain.  Henri Nouwen collapsed in front of the poster of Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son the first time he saw it.  He tells us that at the time of this encounter he was “dead tired.”  He was “anxious, lonely, restless and very needy.” Is this not a good description of many of us? The pandemic has drained our reserves. Our collective suffering is great.  Many of us are in need of a deep, restorative rest.  Henri teaches us that even the strong ones get tired.  He shows us that we too can show our vulnerability.  Let’s recall what happened when he collapsed: he was embraced by God.  It was only in falling to his knees that the father could place his hands on his shoulders and hold him close. 

My question for us this week is can Advent this year be a time of deep rest?  Can we acknowledge our great fatigue and drop? If nothing else, can this Advent season be a time for receiving God’s love?

 

🎧 Conversation with Gabrielle | Listen Now

--


To add a comment, enter your name, email address, and a message you would like to share with the group in the spaces below “Leave a comment”.  Then click “Post a comment.” Within just a few minutes, your comment will be posted and added to the discussion.


If you have any trouble or questions, feel free to email katiet@paracletepress.com.

Previous article Advent With Henri | Week 2 - Winter
Next article Welcome to Advent with Henri

Comments

AnnasysLet - June 8, 2021

download facebook spy tool

ufc game pc download windows 7free download winzip software for windows xp freedownload game minecraft pc full versiondownload internet speed meter for pc windows 10download bootable windows 10 proelectronic workbench download for windows 10download messenger for pc windows 10detroit pc game free downloaddownload khmer unicode font for windows 10lexmark x5470 driver download for windows 10
download minecraft windows 10 for android

epson et 2550 treiber windows 10 download

microsoft defender free download for windows 10

download tidal windows 10

easybcd windows 8 free download free

chrome download for pc 64 bit windows 7 free

d3dcompiler_43 dll file download for windows 10

kingsoft office download for windows 10

download hp simplepass windows 8 free

download whatsapp for windows 10 pc free

qualcomm atheros wifi driver download windows 7 free
windows powershell tutorial pdf free download free
download horse games for pc free
windows 8.1 os iso download free
disney magic kingdom game free download for pc

https://mixpresent.ru/skyrim-recorder-quest-stuck-well-frick-my/
https://chromebrowser.ru/eclipse-sdk-download-for-windows-10-64-bit/
https://rd-ok.ru/dual-monitor-driver-windows-10-download-fix-second/
https://bestsmiles.net.ru/download-photo-viewer-for-windows-10-64-bit/
https://mixpresent.ru/asrock-easy-raid-installer-asrock-motherboard/

counter strike game download for pc windows 7
empire earth download windows 8 free
cool edit pro windows 10 free download
leap office 2000 software free download for windows 7 free
dakar rally game pc download free

microsoft sound mapper download windows 10 free
feature update to windows 10 version 1709 download free
download windows 10 upgrade 1511 free
beyond good and evil pc game download
android windows media player download free

big game hunter download free pc
apk creator software free download for pc
skype download windows xp service pack 2 free
7z free download for windows 7 free
download skyrim legendary edition free pc

https://rd-ok.ru/download-windows-10-april-2018-update-windows-10/
https://rd-ok.ru/download-windows-explorer-10-for-windows-7-64-bit/
https://rd-ok.ru/download-windows-10-pro-64-bit-google-drive/
https://fundamentservis.ru/x-pro1-firmware-update-fujifilm-updates-x-pro1-and/
https://mixpresent.ru/call-of-duty-ghosts-wii-u-download-pagetitle/

san andreas pc game download windows 10

final fantasy tactics pc game free download

download smart audio for windows 10 free

photo editor for pc free download windows 10

candy crush game download for pc windows 10 free

avid pro tools free download windows free

analog devices ad1981b driver windows xp free download free

download manager windows 7 free free

download game barbie fashion show for pc

jetaudio download windows 10

AnnasysLet - June 7, 2021

download bloodrayne 2 pc game freewindows 7 ultimate trial download freepc games free download for windows 8 64 bitdarksiders pc game free downloadbest action and adventure games for pc free downloaddanger dash game free download for pcdownload the windows 10 updatedrone simulator for pc free downloadasus recovery disk windows 8 download freebest offline games for pc download
windows 7 error repair tool free download free

download saavn for windows 10

beyblade metal fusion games free download for pc

essentials windows 10 download

download game jurassic park operation genesis pc

download ds games for pc

halo 2 download windows 7 free

audio video drivers for windows 10 free download

kaspersky internet security 2012 windows 8 download free

download zip for windows 10

instagram exe for windows 10 download
free adobe reader windows 10 download
download outlast 2 game for pc
download driver hp laserjet m1132 mfp windows 10 64 bits
free download software bluetooth for windows 10

https://fundamentservis.ru/d-link-dap-1525-setup-wi-fi-range-extenders-dap/
https://rd-ok.ru/download-xbox-360-drivers-for-windows-10-fake-xbox/
https://chromebrowser.ru/facetime-for-pc-free-download-for-windows-10/
https://fundamentservis.ru/fitbit-blaze-wont-connect-to-bluetooth-fitbit-wont/
https://fundamentservis.ru/60-seconds-virus-scanner-bitdefender-60-second/

football game download for windows 10
download best vpn for windows 10
download kindle app for pc windows 10
garena free fire download for pc windows 7
epson stylus cx3650 driver download windows 7 free

call of duty 4 free download pc multiplayer
code lyoko quest infinity pc game free download
ps3 controller on pc windows 10 driver download
hp photosmart 5510 driver download for windows 10
keylogger for windows 10 with crack free download

iso mount windows 7 free download free
download bible for windows 10
candy crush soda game free download for pc windows 10
download unikey windows 7 32bit free
download youtube app for pc free

https://fundamentservis.ru/ati-radeon-hd-2400-driver/
https://chromebrowser.ru/free-download-office-2013-windows-10-64-bit/
https://hanralecon1988.wordpress.com/2021/05/21/hd-streamz-for-pc-windows-10-download-hd-streamz/
https://bestsmiles.net.ru/download-theme-windows-10-keren-8-theme-windows-10/
https://chromebrowser.ru/foxfire-download-windows-10-mozilla-firefox-64-bit/

full version antivirus free download for windows xp free

download backup and sync windows 10

hp recovery manager download windows 8 64 bit free

adobe video editing software free download for pc

maps download for windows 10

google play music manager download windows 10

free download pet rescue saga game for pc

download windows root system32 hal dll free

best pc games free download utorrent

viber for pc windows 8.1 free download 64 bit

AnnasysLet - June 6, 2021

drift games download for pcdownload free windows 10 iso full version freelifecam download windows 10 freedownload xampp latest version for windows 10 64 bit.net framework 3.5 for windows xp sp3 download freeviber windows phone free download freefree kundli software download for windows xp freeamong the sleep download full game free pcsony pmb download windows 10 freebakugan video game pc download
download word for pc windows 10

service pack 3 windows xp home edition 32 bit download free

nes emulator download for windows 7 free

download aircrack for windows 10

google chrome for pc free download windows 10

pacman game free download for pc windows 7

free download watermark remover software for windows 10

airport tycoon 3 free download full version pc games

download gba emulator for pc windows 8

spybot download windows 8 free

dragon’s lair download free pc
8 ball pool free download for pc windows 7 32bit
download windows 1709 free
dungeon defenders pc game download
download hitman 2 silent assassin pc game full

https://fundamentservis.ru/tascam-us-1800-windows-10-us-800-and-windows-10/
https://fundamentservis.ru/pce-ac56-drivers-asus-pce-ac56-pcie-wi-fi-card-not/
https://fundamentservis.ru/asus-supremefx-hi-fi-supremefx-hi-fi/
https://fundamentservis.ru/dell-optiplex-390-network-drivers-driver-dell/
https://fundamentservis.ru/blizzard-scroll-of-resurrection-earn-legendary/

download game fifa street 4 pc
axis and allies pc download free
torrent downloader free download for windows xp 32 bit free
crack software download for windows 10
google duo for windows download free

adobe photoshop cs6 download for pc windows 10
jw library windows 10 download free
download kaspersky free antivirus for windows 10
download contra game for windows xp free
download game army man pc

lenovo ideapad 320 touchpad driver windows 10 download
paint windows 7 download free
123 media player free download for pc
media player 11 windows 7 free download free
call of duty modern warfare 3 download for windows 10

https://fundamentservis.ru/new-super-mario-bros-retro-remix-mario-retro-remix/
https://fundamentservis.ru/hp-wireless-assistant-not-working-hp-notebook-pcs/
https://fundamentservis.ru/kingston-sv300s37a-120g-firmware-kingston-ssdnow-2/
https://fundamentservis.ru/sound-blaster-x-fi-go-pro-drivers-sound-blaster-x/
https://fundamentservis.ru/sony-kdl-46v5100-sony-kdl-46v5100/

usb scanner driver for windows 7 free download free

cara download aplikasi di laptop windows 10

download cardfight vanguard game for pc

download group policy editor installer windows 10

download mirillis action windows xp free

microsoft excel 2016 free download for windows 10

download input mapper windows 10

download fps games for pc free offline

download game point blank strike pc

download avira antivirus for windows 10

AnnasysLet - June 3, 2021

знак зодиака камни водолей
дева камни знак зодиака
знаки зодиака камни скорпиона
знаки зодиака из камня
знак зодиака рака камень

https://aboutnews2k.blogspot.com/2021/05/blog-post.html
https://hophopnews.blogspot.com/2021/05/blog-post.html
https://hubsternews.blogspot.com/2021/05/blog-post.html

знак зодиака камень агат
камни знаки зодиака рак
камни знака зодиак близнецы
камень рыбы знак зодиака
камни талисманы знака зодиака

камни знаку зодиака овен

камень знака зодиак рыб

камень изумруд знаки зодиака

близнец знак зодиака камни
знак зодиака какие камни
знак зодиак лев камень
камни знаку зодиака дева
львы знак зодиака камни

Tdcisshouch - June 1, 2021

автобус кавз купить
Tegs: купить автобус кавз https://www.tc-bus.ru/kavz

автобус 4234
цена на паз 4234
вектор некст автобус

Sdvillbeedy - May 19, 2021

herbert braun pharmaceutical&recerch labs
Tegs: hiss diagnostics gmbh https://chimmed.ru/

Koehler Instrument
Kromasil
LC Tech

Kvvillbeedy - May 7, 2021

N трет Бутоксикарбонил 4 гидроксипиперидин 97 процентов купить онлайн Интернет магазин ХИММЕД
Tegs: N трет Бутоксикарбонил 3 4 цианофенил оксазиридин 98 процентов купить онлайн Интернет магазин ХИММЕД https://chimmed.ru/products/n-boc-3-4-cyanophenyloxaziridine-98-id=313097

4 5 Dichloro 3 hydroxypyridazine 98 процентов купить онлайн Интернет магазин ХИММЕД
4 5 Dichloro 2 methyl 3 2H pyridazinone 97 процентов купить онлайн Интернет магазин ХИММЕД
4 5 Diaminopyrimidine 97 процентов купить онлайн Интернет магазин ХИММЕД

odasufi - February 3, 2021

http://mewkid.net/when-is-xuxlya3/ – Buy Amoxicillin Amoxicillin 500mg tiw.aeku.paracletepress.com.ueo.im http://mewkid.net/when-is-xuxlya3/

igzaduc - February 3, 2021

http://mewkid.net/when-is-xuxlya3/ – Amoxicillin 500mg Capsules Amoxicillin tgu.fiaf.paracletepress.com.usq.gr http://mewkid.net/when-is-xuxlya3/

SJ - December 8, 2020

Here in Washington state I spent most of the first nine months of “Covid time” working intensively in my garden. The months flew by. There was much time for reflection, often with the help of essays or excerpts from various Nouwen writings. But as summer ended a teenage child sank into substance abuse and other destructive behaviors. Their complex therapy, involving all of the family, appears to be bringing them back from the brink. It seems that a time of pensive and anxious waiting is transitioning to something quieter in me. My hope is that this study can be a part of showing me how to find meaning in all we’ve been through and how to embrace the one who has returned.

Leave a comment

* Required fields