Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life [Paperback]

Henri J. M. Nouwen (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 5, 1986

With the clarity and depth characteristic of the classics, this spiritual bestseller lays out a perceptive and insightful plan for living a spiritual life and achieving the ultimate goal of that life -- union with God.

Nouwen views our spiritual "ascent" as evolving in three movements. The first, from loneliness to solitude, focuses on the spiritual life as it relates to the experience of our own selves. The second, from hostility to hospitality, deals with our spiritual life as a life for others. The final movement, from illusion to prayer, offers penetrating thoughts on the most mysterious relationship of all: our relationship to God. Throughout, Nouwen emphasizes that the more we understand (and not simply deny) our inner struggles, the more fully we will be able to embrace a prayerful and genuine life that is also open to others' needs.

Reaching Out is a rich book to be read, reread, pondered, and shared with others. "It does not offers answers or solutions," Nouwen cautions, "but is written in the conviction that the quest for an authentic Christian spirituality is worth the effort and the pain, since in the midst of this quest we can find signs offering hope, courage, and confidence."

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Church Times said of Reaching Out '!wide maturity, full of insight.' The Tablet said that Nouwen was 'particularly good on the whole business of knowing ourselves.' The Church of England Newspaper said that is 'explores areas of spirituality rarely touched on in our evangelical tradition.' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

With clarity and deep spiritual insight, this religious bestseller offers today's Christian a perceptive, systematic plan for living the spiritual life achieving union with God.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 165 pages
• Publisher: Image; Reissue edition (August 5, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385236824
• ISBN-13: 978-0385236829
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Henri Nouwen was born in Holland in 1932 and ordained a Catholic priest in 1957. He obtained his doctorandus in psychology from Nijmegen University in The Netherlands and taught at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard. He experienced the monastic life with Trappist monks at the Abbey of the Genesee, lived among the poor in Latin America with the Maryknoll missioners, and was interested and active in numerous causes related to social justice. After a lifetime of seeking, Henri Nouwen finally found his home in Canada, as pastor of L'Arche Daybreak - where people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers live together in community.

Henri Nouwen wrote over 40 books on spirituality and the spiritual life that have sold millions of copies and been translated into dozens of languages. His vision of spirituality was broad and inclusive, and his compassion embraced all of humankind.

He died in 1996. His work and his spirit live on.

Henri Nouwen pronounced his name "Henry Now-en." For more information on his life and work, please visit www.henrinouwen.org .

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#65 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#65 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

133 of 135 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A lifeline for the weary Christian - refreshing and renewing April 3, 2001

By Just-a-girl

Format:Paperback

This is my second taste of Nouwen, and it has been even better than the first ("The Inner Voice of Love"). This book is a valuable component of the amazing turnaround of my depression.

Some Christians say that when you find yourself burnt out and needy, you should go back to the basics. They offer no new solutions, and point you back to daily quiet times and church attendance and service. But here is a book that offers a completely new and refreshing look at God and life. It offers a chance to slow down, to deal with your own heart and soul before rushing to "perform" as a Christian should. Nouwen shows that only when we take time to love and hear ourselves, to become comfortable with who we are and be content with solitute, only after those steps are taken can we reach out to others in true love. We simply must love ourselves and deal with our hurts and needs before we can help and learn from others.

We often reach out to others when we are hurting. We are afraid to deal alone with our needs. We are desperately seeking someone or something to drown out our own voice, to give us new answers. We watch television, listen to music, read books, socialize. This book points us back into ourselves. For we are indeed God's children, and the Spirit is in us. When we learn to be still, we can offer that very stillness and peace to others. We can commune with God in prayer. We can break the illusions of business, of our circumstance ruling us. And we can once again be in touch with ourselves, others, and our God.

This is a life-changing, pain-shattering book. In these pages, we meet the Healer, the God who loves us infinitely and takes the time to fill us up and heal our wounds. We meet the God who gives us the peace to live a centered life, not a chaotic one.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone seeking a Spiritual Life May 20, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I first read this book in college, it was an assigned text for a philosophy course. When I began to read it, I could not put it down. I could not believe that this uplifting book was an assigned text. The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life: From Loneliness to Solitude; From Hostility to Hospitality: and From Illusion to Prayer have changed my life. Since then I have read this book several times. I have bought it for my family members and recommended it to my friends and clients. I recommend this book or any book written by Henri J.M. Nouwen for all human service professionals or anyone seeking a more spiritual life.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical philosopy, engaging theology December 27, 2000

By Warren aldrich

Format:Paperback

As a Christian for 40 some years, I have searched for ways to more effectively live out my devotion to God. Nouwin's book Reaching Out came into my life after 40 some years in a legalistic cultish church and about 3 years in a more grace-filled church where I made some major moral mistakes.

Nouwin's perceptive and astute words described my experience so well. "...we constantly find ourselves clinging to people, books, events, experiences, projects and plans, secretly hoping that this time it will be different. We keep experimenting with many types of anesthetics, we keep finding "psychic numbing" often more agreeable than the sharpening of our inner sensitivities."

His prompting to turn loneliness into solitude where I can possible hear myself and God has been like water in the desert to me. I look forward to the time usually each day where I set the timer and try to empty my mind of noise and hopefully "descend with the mind into the heart"