Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that

Beneath all my seemingly strong self-confidence there remained the question: “If all those who shower me with so much attention could see me and know me in my innermost self, would they still love me?”

To be chosen as the Beloved of God is something radically different. Instead of excluding others, it includes others. Instead of rejecting others as less valuable, it accepts others in their own uniqueness. It is not a competitive, but a compassionate choice.

the first step to healing is not a step away from the pain, but a step toward it.

I am convinced that healing is often so difficult because we don’t want to know the pain.