Walking with Henri Nouwen

Written in journal form as a preparation for a retreat on Henri Nouwen, one of the most revered spiritual writers and guides of our time, this engaging book examines themes of brokenness transcended and integrated into Christian wholeness. Waldron takes full measure of Nouwen's often conflicted personal nature--struggles with loneliness, rejection, depression and sexuality--and professional--from brilliant tenure as a pastoral psychologist at Yale, Harvard and Notre Dame, to his call to personal ministry to the profoundly mentally and physically disabled at L'Arche Daybreak in Canada. He augments it with in-depth accounts of Nouwen's literary works, his interest in painting, iconography, music, and clowning. The result is this poignant, multifaceted work that resounds in its chief conceit--the walk or journey toward wholeness is achieved through the balm of healing that we receive when we follow Jesus' example and take on the crosses of the broken and weak. Students and scholars of art, literature, psychology, and religion, followers of Nouwen, retreatants, and the general public, will find this work compelling. Highlights: - A fascinating read, as well as a call to a code of conduct embracing the Christian way of the cross. - A font of information on Nouwen's seminal works, including: The Return of the Prodigal Son, Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons, The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom, Genesee Diary, Sabbatical Journey, Clowning in Rome, as well as Michael Ford's Wounded Prophet, A Portrait of H. M. Nouwen, Shakespeare's King Lear, the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, the spirituality of Thomas Merton, and much more. - Tackles sensitive questions of sexuality.