Here and Now: Living in the Spirit

Easy to read and understand 👌Right on teaching for followers of Christ Jesus. My book club 💙 has grown from this message.

Such a wonderful book for these times.Keeping my head in the game is so very important, here in the beginning of 2021. Yep, crazy meet crazier.This is one of my touchstones. A.N. had the knack to know what I need. Or maybe I am just open to the Word.Whatever I am grateful to have this in my spiritual arsenal for these times.

A very sagacious and thoughtful book about how to live life on a daily basis. It inspires diurnal meditations. It provides guides for how to handle pain and loss in life. For instance, it has wise points to make on those loved ones who hurt one and were only able to give limited love. He emphasizes that we have to accept people as they are- warts and all- to develop a rich interior life. There is an abundance of wisdom in this work.

This book of meditations is one of Nouwen's best, I think. It covers a multitude of life circumstances and endeavors. Each chapter is divided into short sections that will help get readers focused on their own meditations and prayers to draw out God's will and ways in their own everyday lives. Nouwen's writing is sensitive and wise. His words are well worth pondering. The significance of the title is that it helps to live "in the moment" more than being anxious about the future or regretful over the past. It's a book of meditations, not meant to be read through quickly or in one sitting. Each discussion is meant as a springboard for you own thoughts, prayers and reflections on your own situation. It's not a book for "getting through" as much as it is for "getting along".

I found this book on the nightstand at my friend Kay's house when I was visiting for a few days. Wow. I soon realized that I had discovered a treasure. It reads like a devotional, with several short chapters on different important topics. Nouwen's words were from his heart--he bared his soul in a few chapters--and they help the reader move toward a deeper relationship with Jesus and a heart that is more alive. The title, Here and Now, refers to one of the main themes: God is in the present with us. We tend to dwell on the past or fear the future, but God is here now, in the present. And we can experience Him and His love for us in an intimate way. Thank you, Henri Nouwen, for your legacy.

What I find most encouraging in Nouwen's writings is the fact that he honestly writes about his doubts and struggles which seem to be my doubts and struggles too. But rather than despair, he shows us a way through our lack of faith and leads us to Christ.

Introduced to this author by my pastor.

The writings of Henri Nouwen can always be counted on to be relevant, insightful wise and personal. I can think of no other voice that so immediately brings the heart of Jesus into the places of our seeking. I gave this book to a parishioner who wanted to give guidance for a friend that had lost their spiritual way after the death of their husband. She ended up giving it away, replacing mine and buying her own!