Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue

Henri Nouwen on Filling the Heart

posted by Beyond Blue | 9:45am Monday April 28, 2008

When I’m in that needy place, it helps me to read what Henri Nouwen wrote in his book, “The Inner Voice of Love” about all those persons, places, and things that we think are absolutely necessary for our wholeness. When, in fact, we only need God. But that doesn’t make us immune from the pain of wanting or grabbing or feeling the withdrawal. Nouwen writes:

Intellectually I knew that no human friendship could fulfill the deepest longing of my heart. I knew that only God could give me what I desired. I knew that I had been set on a road where nobody could walk with me but Jesus. But all this knowledge didn’t help me in my pain.



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Comments read comments(7)
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Larry Parker

posted April 28, 2008 at 11:51 am


… which brings us right back to the problem of pain — C.S. Lewis, Job, Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, the current Bishop Wright vs. Bart Ehrman blogalogue here on Bnet, and the like.
No?



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Melanie

posted April 28, 2008 at 1:43 pm


I think that I’ll go get that book at the library. It sounds really interesting.



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ammamcp

posted April 28, 2008 at 4:34 pm


Gotta love Henri. This is one of my favorite books of his.



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therapydoc

posted April 29, 2008 at 4:32 am


I and Thou is the ideal relationship, always there for you, assuming you put in your share.



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Margaret Balyeat

posted April 29, 2008 at 5:20 am


therapydoc: And therin lies the rub; we have to do the work. I think it’s easy to forget that; I know it is for ME. Thanks for the reminder.



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kay

posted April 29, 2008 at 6:46 am


What does one have to do to achieve the feeling of wholesomeness.? Its always as though there is something missing!!



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joanna

posted May 4, 2008 at 7:14 pm


I have just finished reading the wounded heart. Recommend it. He is a very special man.



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