I just finsihed reading Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen was a Notre Dame, Yale and Harvard university professor, activist and author who withdrew from much of his public life in 1986 to become the pastor at a L’Arche community for the developmentally disabled near Toronto.
This book was written after and extensive speaking tour Nouwen had been on discussing the political and religous struggle that was taking place in Latin America at that time. After the tour, Nouwen was spiritually and emotionally exhaused. At the invitation of a friend he travelled to a L’Arch community in Frace for a time or recouperation. During his stay, he encountered a print of Rembrandt’s famous painting, “The Return of the Prodigal Son“. This book is a recolection of Nouwen’s journey of discovering the significance of both painting and the story.
The book can be read as a mediation on Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen explores how the story is a call for us to recognize that we are at times both the younger and older son and that are ultimate calling is to mature and take our place in the role of the Father.
Today I read:
Against my own best intentions, I find myself continually striving to acquire power. When I give advice, I want to know whether it is being followed; when I offer help, I want to be thanked; when I give money, I want it to be used in my way; when I do something good, I want to be remembered. I might not get a statue, or even a memorial plaque, but I am constantly concerned that I not be forgotten, that somehow I will live on in the thoughts and deeds of others.
But the father of the prodigal son is not concerned about himself. His long-suffering life has emptied him of his desires to keep in control of things. His children are his only concern, to them he wants to give completely, and for them he wants to pour out all of himself.
Nouwen achieved a great deal in his lifetime. He gained a lot of respect from a lot of influential people. It is very significant to me that his focus was moving from the always needy child to the all giving father.
In the closing pages of the book, Nouwen reveals that he believes the only way to grow into the compassionate, spiritual fatherhood that God desires for us all is to be immersed in the spiritual life of grief, forgiveness and generosity.
I recommend that if you haven’t read this book yet, pick up and copy and read it slowly, cherishing and mediating on each thought of a talented writer and deeply compassionate man.
Also see, The Core of My Spiriutal Struggle
Tags: books henri nouwen
I’ve posted a review of the latest book I’ve read. It’s called “Facedown” by Matt Redman. 
N.T. Wright on “Christian Truth”
Part of my study on Colossians has me working through a commentary by N.T. Wright on Colossians and Philippians. As far as commentaries go, I find it quite good. A nice mix of readability and technical detail. My only quibble so far is that it does not actually contain the text of the passage being written about. Wright mentions that the lack of blocks of the passage being studied is by design. The purpose is to encourage the reader to read the commentary with a Bible close by. I appreciate the intention but I prefer to be able to constantly look both at the text and the commentary and I find this easier to do when both are on the same page. Today I read about Wright’s thoughts on the application of “ancient text to the modern situation”. He says,
And speaking of the messy task of biblical interpretation, Wright says,
I like the flow of this explanation. To me, it seems that we are better served by deeply engaging both the Bible and each other then we would ever be served by a book of, “timeless truths”. Discipleship is more about growing in love for God and each other then making sure we have all our doctrinal ducks in a row.