The great teachers are always those who can live the tension. They are not criticizing everybody, they're not complaining. They give young people a vision.

Yes, it's a competitive world, but where is your heart?

Every time I take a step in the direction of generosity, I know I am moving from fear to love.

I wrote to my bishop, the Archbishop of Utrecht, Holland, and explained that I wanted not just permission to stay longer, but a mission. He met me at the Trosly L'Arche community and we spent a few days together . . . I wanted him to get to know L'Arche, to understand what I was doing there. Afterward he said, "I understand now, Henri. You have found a home for your self."

Living a spiritual life requires a change of heart, a conversion. Such a conversion may be marked by a sudden inner change, or it can take place through a long, quiet process of transformation. But it always involves an inner experience of oneness.

the real "work" of prayer is to become silent and listen to the voice that says good things about me. To gently push aside and silence the many voices that question my goodness and to trust that I will hear the voice of blessing-- that demands real effort.

I am working on three things: on being a prayerful person; on staying close to the handicapped; and on my writing. These are my constant concerns.