The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing...that is a friend who cares.
Henri NouwenIf you meet God in solitude, you discover the God you meet is the God who embraces all people.
Henri NouwenOur lives are unique stones in the mosaic of human existence -- priceless and irreplaceable.
Henri NouwenSimply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into the experience of weakness and powerlessness, become part of the uncertainty, and give up control and self-determination.
Henri NouwenOnly in the context of the great encounter with Jesus can a real authentic struggle take place. The encounter with Christ does not take place before, after, or beyond the struggle with our false self and its demons. No, it is precisely in the midst of this struggle that our Lord comes to us and says, as he said to the old man in the story: โAs soon as you turned to me again, you see I was beside you.โ
Henri Nouwen