Customer Reviews

Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Henri Nouwen is one of those spiritual giants who are humble and small in stature and yet still manage to stand astride the landscape. I have read and enjoyed many of his books, and plan on rereading most of them over time. This particular book is a collection of previously published material arranged and republished by Christensen and Laird.

It is an outline of some of the major movements in spiritual formation, and the different stages of that formation. So, it is divided into three parts: Early, Midlife, and Mature movements. In each section, Nouwen urges the reader to move away from a negative spiritual stance (like illusion) and towards a positive one (like prayer). Along the way, the reader finds interesting parables and stories, as well as insights from mystics past, and, of course, much scriptural teaching.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is, however, not a book that I can read and fully appreciate all at once. Let me explain. I have read the entire book, but much of it is full of teaching that I simply cannot follow yet; I am not there yet. I noticed this particularly in the third section of the book, on mature movements. I appreciate what he is saying, but it is beyond me right now. This is no criticism, it is just unusual. This book is meant to be read over a lifetime. That said, I enjoyed it a lot. Nouwen's insights into the human heart are, as usual, profound and moving. His wisdom in walking the path of Christ is very appreciated.

Two sections I greatly appreciated were his thoughts on transforming time from chronos to kairos and his thoughts on Community. For time, he talks about changing it from bare sequencing, to time in which God is with us, sacred moments that we can fill with spiritual formation. For community, Nouwen argues that community is not a place of safety and familiarity, but a place of forgiveness and celebration. Those are just two examples from a book full of goodness.

Conclusions: 5 Stars. Recommended. Though every chapter will not speak to where you are now, something will, making this book more than worthwhile.

Spiritual Formation is one of three compilations of the thoughts and writings of beloved spiritual master Henri J. M. Nouwen. This is one of two volumes, with a third on the way, compiled by Michael Christiansen and Rebecca Laird of Drew University in New Jersey from Nouwen's 40 books. In this volume, they identify seven of the 26 or so "movements of the Spirit" identified by Nouwen, with spiritual exercises at the close of each chapter, as well as color plates of the artwork referenced in the practice of the exercises in visio divina. I would recommend that the reader also purchase "Spiritual Direction" Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith by the same authors as a companion volume. I just attended a four day seminar on this material with Christiansen and Laird, and can testify that it is good stuff from personable and knowledgeable Nouwen scholars.

I have been reading Henri Nouwen since the 1960's and have found inspiration and wisdom in most of his works. I believe that Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction are two of the most helpful and practical guides I have found for those of us who find ourselves in a mentoring role. Not only is there counsel for developing others in their spiritual walk, but much is provided for the mentor to reflect on his or her own spiritual life. I can't wait for the third volume in this series!

I knew what I was going to get when I purchased the book from Amazon. And i got it. Nouwen is able to put into words his
human experience as it appears in spiritual terms. It is not easy reading because every page requires you to stop and find the words of Nouwen in your own life. But that is exactly what I wanted. And at a price I could afford.