Henri Nouwen

One of the things I wanted to have on my blog was a book suggestion or review section. Like I said in my post yesterday, I read a lot and many different books written by many different authors have shaken my faith and touched my heart. For someone who often feels a bit like the odd person out, reading books and finding authors who think like me, who are interested in the same things as me and who ask the same questions as I do reminds me that I am not so odd after all. Through my books I have found countless kindred souls and God has used these people I have never met to weave my faith into something I never imagined it could be.One of these incredible authors is Henri Nouwen. Nouwen was an ordained Catholic priest and professor who, throughout his life, wrote 39 books (according to wikipedia). I was discussing Nouwen and his work with someone last week and I think she put it perfectly, his writing reflects his humanity. Nouwen's work is real, brutally honest and so relatable. I think one of the things that I personally love about his writing is that while it is full of assurances of grace, unconditional love and the peace of God it is also full of the honest truth, that it is difficult to believe in unconditional love and it can be difficult to accept that we are the Beloved (Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World).It is one of Henri Nouwen's books and his beautiful words that recently brought me back home to God. His beautiful words have wrapped around my heart, offered me reassurances, invited me to hope and have brought me home to God not just once but many many times in the short period of time in which I discovered him. I have only read a few of his books but each one has offered my heart and soul something different. So I have decided to do a mini series in which I discuss the books I have read and how they have impacted me. I hope that you will follow along and maybe even pick up one of his many beautiful books.Peace, Joy, Blessings and So Much Love,Margaret