Matt sits down with Dr. Christin Ditchfield-Lazo (“Lazo, the Greater”/”Lazo Major”) to talk about a shared love of the writer Henri Nouwen.
Show Notes
- The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen
- Henri Nouwen Wikipedia Article
- Henri Nouwen Mug
- Northwind Seminary
- Can You Drink the Cup? by Henri Nouwen
- St. Maximillian Kolbe
- Les Miserables (Book)
The world says: “Yes, I love you if you are good-looking, intelligent, and wealthy. I love you if you have a good education, a good job, and good connections. I love you if you produce much, sell much, and buy much.” There are endless “ifs” hidden in the world’s love. These “ifs” enslave me, since it is impossible to respond adequately to all of them. It is a world that fosters addictions because what it offers cannot satisfy the deepest craving of my heart.
Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son
…anger, resentment, jealousy, desire for revenge, lust, greed, antagonism and rivalries…
Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And when Eli′jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Eli′jah?”
1 kings 19:11-13
The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.
Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son
I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.”
John 21:18 (Common English Bible)
As we grow older or more spiritually mature we too may be handed over and with outstretched hands be guided and led to places we would rather not go. What was true for Peter will be true for us. Learn the discipline of being surprised, not by suffering, but by joy. As we grow old there is suffering ahead of us, immense suffering, a suffering that will continue to tempt us to think that we have chosen the wrong road. But don’t be surprised by pain, be surprised by joy. Be surprised by the little flower that shows its beauty in the midst of a barren desert and be surprised by the immense healing power that keeps bursting forth like springs of fresh water from the depths of our pain.
Henri Nouwen, Finding my way home
- Frederick Buechner
- The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen
- With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life by Henri Nouwen
- The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
- Flying, Falling, Catching: An Unlikely Story of Finding Freedom by Henri Nouwen
- The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin
- Christin Ditchfield-Lazo’s website
