Spiritual Living in a Secular World - Life of the Beloved

This book not only has touched my life but the many friends I have given it to, I have read many of Henri Nouwen's books and this is still one of my favorites..A true message of God's unconditional love.

For some reason, I did not gain any spiritual enlightenment and/or knowledge from this book; I was disappointed because Neuwen's books are usually most enlightening in many ways. Thank you for asking. Elizabeth A. Lampitt

Henri Nouwen pens a book to a Jewish friend who had requested Nouwen provide him with something that helped him and his friends understand the way of the spiritual life. A life that he, Fred, saw Nouwen lived.

Nouwen shares the importance of recognising who we are in Christ: His Beloved. Until we come to understand this we will always struggle to walk in the spirit. But getting this understanding into our heart is a journey - "Becoming the Beloved is the great spiritual journey we have to make" and "letting the truth of our Belovedness become enfleshed in everything we think, say or do."

Nouwen introduces a model of personal transformation that enables us to become the Beloved in all of our life. His model which he terms "movements of the Spirit" uses the analogy of the bread of the Communion table where we take, are blessed, broken and then we go out and give of ourselves. The rest of the book describes how each of these four movements connect us to our Belovedness.

Interestingly, on receiving an early draft of the book, Fred didn't feel it answered his questions because it assumed certain knowledge that he and his friends didn't possess. This fascinated me as I had planned to give the book to a dear friend who isn't a believer and who struggles with her own sense of being loved. So I will seek further inquiry of the Lord to see if I should follow through with my original idea.

This is a great read. Take it slowly and like most Nouwen words requires some contemplation and meditation.

Highly recommended.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who thought it would somehow beneficial. Sorry to say it was a complete waste of time. Totally lacking in substance and theology, it reads more like an attempt to reach his friend through empathy. Even Fred, his friend, told Nouwen that he basically missed the mark when writing this book for him and his like-minded friends. Fred's explanation on page 144 explain the things lacking in the book that he had hoped would be discussed.

Since Nouwen and Fred have almost nothing in common regarding faith, Nouwen tries to build on this common ground of "nothing", and that's what you get. Too vague, and I had no idea where he was really going with his ideas or how they were very practical. Just my two cents. This book is going to be given away or thrown in the trash, as it is utterly useless.

This book has made such an impact on me and others that have read it. The ladies of my church are reading the book as a book study. The fact that a Catholic priest is writing it to his Jewish friend makes it even more far reaching. That this realization that we are the "Beloved" is not just for those in particular religious sects. I highly recommend this book. It will open your eyes and your heart and you will learn, step by step, how to claim your belovedness.

This book, though written specifically for a dear friend, speaks to many people with a message that is difficult to ignore. Nouwen's account of a person's identity as "God's Beloved" grabs hold of a reader's attention by leading her through every component of what it means to be taken, blessed, broken, and given.

As God's chosen child, I have a choice in how I will view the world around me. I am able to add values to others because I'm operating from a place of authenticity and wholeness. As a result, light is dispersed into the universe while darkness takes a back seat.

I highly recommend this book for anybody who has wrestled with their identity and purpose. Life of the Beloved reverses the idea that you must prove your value. When you start with acceptance, your influence flows authentically, from a place of security and love.

`Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World' is one of Fr. Henri Nouwen's final works--an attempt to reach out to the many people of our society who desire to believe in something greater than themselves, but are buried in the day-in-and-day-out activity of "getting by" in our world. The reflections are addressed to a friend of his who did not have much faith, if any, and who asked Fr. Nouwen if he would write a book on spirituality for "he and his friends." In such, much of the book is written as if the author is speaking directly to this friend.

I must first say that I have always been a tad bit hesitant in reading works written by Fr. Nouwen. Though I have found many of his reflections to be beautiful, his Catholic Christian theology at times has seemed a little fuzzy to me. Rest assured to those who share these concerns, it is not a problem in this book. The three main divisions of the brief book are "Being the Beloved", "Becoming the Beloved", and "Living as the Beloved". The middle section further is broken down into four actions that take place in Becoming the Beloved: we are Taken, Blessed, Broken, and Given.

I found the book to be thought-provoking and quite profound at parts. Yet I found myself questioning throughout (knowing the person/type of audience it is to be addressed to), "Would a secular person embrace this? Would they `get it'?" I think many of us desire to find those resources which we could just hand to a secular friend and send them on, knowing it would reach them... though I am not convinced this book achieves what the author had intended or hoped. It is very difficult for one steeped in the richness of the Christian Faith to effectively and authentically connect with the abyss of self that so many lost souls experience today. I believe on a direct and personal level, Fr. Nouwen certainly made major strides in drawing this young man into "The Great Conversation", however, I am not sure that translated in a more generic way on paper in this book.

That being said, I WOULD recommend `Life of the Beloved' for the Christian who has already chosen Christ and may be at the beginning of their Faith walk--especially those who have recognized the futility of the "ladder of success" but don't know exactly how to integrate their newfound Faith with their many responsibilities and perhaps discouraging personal reality. I would further say this; after reading the Epilogue of this book, I will no longer permit myself to reflect critically upon Fr. Henri Nouwen. His honesty is so raw, his exposure of his own humanity and pain so real, I found myself deeply moved to the point of tears. This man truly loved and loves... and in such a Christ-like fashion, he continually permits that love to be nailed to a cross.

Some other books the reader may find of value:

Mere Christianity
Deep Conversion/ Deep Prayer
The Promise: God's Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts

Beautiful book by a wonderful writer who while talking to his atheist friend tries to explain the mystery of God's love. It is a very intimate book with deep, rich insights.

Great to read over and over again to grow in faith.

Nouwen is an amazing writer of great spiritual depth.

Henri Nouwen was inspired to write "Life of the Beloved" after meeting a New York Times reporter, Fred Bratman, who was assigned to do a piece on Nouwen for the Sunday Times. The two continued to meet and became friends. Bratman challenged Nouwen to write something for an audience - young ambitious, secular men and women -unfamiliar to Nouwen. "Can you speak with the same conviction as you speak to those who share your tradition, your language and your vision?"

Nouwen responded with "Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World." In it Nouwen speaks to spiritual disciplines that can overcome the pull of the world and lead us to the greatest gifts we have to offer the world - our own joy of living, our inner peace, our silence and solitude, our sense of well-being. These gifts which are then manifested in friendship, kindness, patience, joy, peace, forgiveness, gentleness, love, hope, trust, and many others can be multiplied many times over in death to feed a needy world.

To understand "Being the Beloved" and living spiritually in a secular world requires a full understanding and acceptance of "Becoming the Beloved, Being Taken, Being Blessed, Being Broken, and Being Given." Nouwen details each and concludes with a chapter on "Living the Beloved."

Becoming the Beloved - the spiritual journey we must make.

Being Taken - we have always existed in God's heart; we were chosen.

Being Blessed - The blessed one always blesses; no one is brought to life through curses, gossip, accusations, or blaming.

Being Broken - we must claim our brokenness as our intimate companion; who ever knew broken glass could shine so brightly?

Being Given - our greatest fulfillment lies in giving our broken selves to others; if chosen, our short lives can bear fruit far beyond death.

Bratman and his friends were not deeply moved by the draft of this text. He felt the book did not speak to the heart of the secular. Nouwen admitted he failed to enter into the secular mentality. "The issue was not how to express the mystery of God but whether there was anything in the world that can be called `sacred." But in writing for the secular, Nouwen quickly learned he wrote something of great value to searching Christians. God had used His secular friends to have him write for His disciples.

(There is rare footage of Nouwen presenting "Becoming the Beloved, Being Taken, Being Blessed, Being Broken, and Being Given" available on VHS offered by the Chrystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA. He presented there over three Sundays in the early 1990s before his unexpected and sudden death.)

This is classic Nouwen. Beautiful, profound, comforting, joyful. I first read this at a time when it seemed like everyone around me was trying to convince me I was worthless. It was like Nouwen sat beside me and was the operating nurse while the Great Physician did surgery on my soul. I have read this a few times and I imagine I will read it twenty more in my lifetime. If you need to know that you are The Beloved, lose yourself in his words.

A small but lovely little book about living as God's Beloved, with meditations on both living for Jesus and dying in the faith. Written around four themes: taken, blessed, broken, and given, here are some of my favorite passages:

"the real work of prayer is to become silent and listen to the voice that says good things about me...if you develop the discipline of spending one-half hour a day listening to the voice of love, you will gradually discover that something is happening of which you were not even conscious" (62-63).

"The joy of life comes from the ways in which we live together and...the pain of life comes from the many ways we fail to do that well" (73).

Death "becomes the final 'Yes' and the great return to where we can most fully become children of God....the One who sent me on the mission is waiting for me to come home and tell the story of what I have learned" (110).

I was touched by Henri's inspiring words that encouraged me to step out into this messy world relying on faith alone. His thoughts on death in particular will tug at your heart and give you hope for the future eternal life that awaits all of God's children. Highly recommended.

I enjoy this book very much. It is ironic that it was a failure. It did not serve to improve the lives of Henri Nouwen's (1932-1996) secular friends as he intended. Mr Nouwen, to his credit, acknowledges this when he writes, "My attempt had been to be a witness of God's to a secular world, but I had sounded like someone who is so excited about the art of sailing that he forgets that his listeners have never seen lakes or the sea, not to mention sailboats" As much as I am disappointed to see one of my favourite books receive a 1-star rating, I must admit that "jwagner4" is correct. This book does not state the message of the Christian Bible, and it does tend toward an ecumenical spirituality. Based on these two reports, I would suggest that if you are searching for a spiritual connection from a secular viewpoint, or if you are looking for a literal message from the Gospel, you might be disappointed by this book. On the other hand, I found spiritual serenity in reading this book. Reading that I was cherished by the LORD was affirming. It is something I would like to read more often, and read far too seldom. Not all Christians have been disappointed by this book. In 1947, a movement of the Spirit produced the founding of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, D. C., (USA), Pastored by Gordon Cosby, this church demonstrated a radical faith witness to the rest of the world. Under the direction of Pastor Cosby, the Church of the Saviour became a vital force for uplifting the neighbourhoods in which it dwelt. These were low-income neighbourhoods filled with people who were quite practical about what it takes to live. Not the type of people who are usually taken in by pie-in-the-sky theology. Elizabeth O'Connor was one of the church's early members and would later join the church staff. Her writings ("Letters to Sacttered Pilgrims) would chronicle their story, letting the rest of the world know of the amazing work GOD was doing in their midst. Ms O'Connor and Pastor Cosby were impressed enough with Nouwen's book to ask him if they might use it for spiritual teaching in their schools. This is what Ms O'Connor wrote about this book, "An instructive and gentle book. Henri Nouwen does more than tell us that solitude and community are essential for the spiritual life. His words impart a spirit that will better enable his readers to provide themselves with these seemingly contradictory necessities." This book may not be for everyone. Even so, if you are interested in developing a meaningful spiritual relationship, it might be for you.

In Henri Nouwen's Life of the Beloved, he attempts to write a book that is spiritually relevant to a secular world. Sadly, he fails. The book still has major appeal for a spiritual audience, but he admits (as does the intended recipient of the book) that it failed to achieve the purpose for which it was written. The reason for this is that Nouwen cannot help but write from the perspective of a Christian, and his presuppositions come through and are not accepted by a secular reader. Before accepting Nouwen's comforting and encouaraging words about God and spirituality, basic questions of God's existence, God's interaction, and humanity's place in all of that must be answered. Nouwen acknowledges that Life of the Beloved does not address those things, but rather assumes them.
Still, it is an excellent read. Nouwen's prose is easy to read, and his writing style intersperses spiritual depth with cognitive simplicity. For a spiritual audience, the book resonates very well and addresses important matters such as our purpose in life, our relationships with others, and even our life and death as a way of giving ourselves to others. A theme I have seen in other writers is repeated here, namely the idea that we are already the Beloved, yet we must also become the Beloved. Other writers have touched on the idea that we are already children of God, we are already made in God's image, we are already reconciled to God, and the Christian (or spiritual) life is simply about recognizing that truth and living into it, rather than having to earn it.
I like when Nouwen compares the call of the Christian to the communion bread in Christ's hands. In the words of the Catholic liturgy, Christ took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples. The book has challenged me to ponder how Christ has taken hold of me, blessed me, broken me, and then given me to the world.

Took: When were you totally grasped by the grace and love of Jesus Christ?

Blessed: How has God blessed your life? Specifically, with what talents and gifts has God blessed you that He might use?

Broken: How has God broken you of your pride and selfishness, and how has He broken your heart to the needs of others?

Given: How does God intend to give you to the world? What specific blessings is He telling you to share with others?

Meaningful quotes:
"But I know now, at least, that attempting to avoid, repress or escape the pain is like cutting off a limb that could be healed with proper attention. The deep truth is that our human suffering need not be an obstacle to the joy and peace we so desire, but can become, instead, the means to it." (p. 77)

"I never realized that broken glass could shine so brightly."
(quoted from Leonard Bernstein's Mass.) (p. 83)

"It is sad to see that, in our highly competitive and greedy world, we have lost touch with the joy of giving. We often live as if our happiness depended on having. But I don't know anyone who is really happy because of what he or she has. True joy, happiness and inner peace come from the giving of ourselves to others. A happy life is a life for others." (p. 87)

Becoming the Beloved is a letter Henri Nouwen prepared for a friend of his who had questions about the spiritual life. When asked about spirituality, Nouwen wrote to him about the experience Jesus had of the Father calling Jesus the Beloved one. The primary teaching in the book is we are Gods Beloved. Our life is about learning to accept that we are the Beloved and shape our lives around that truth. Nouwen does an excellent job, as usual, drawing the reading out of the head and down into their heart. It is a profound work and yet easy to comprehend.

There are a few books a person reads in their lifetime that changes their life. This is one of them. In a clear, straightforward delivery, Nouwen provides his view on how to live life well. The principles are nothing new (know that you are beloved by God, give yourself to others, bless those you come in contact with), but Nouwen's personal openness effected me like none of his other books that I have read. Written as a letter to a younger, secular Jew, the friendship shared, the struggles gone through and the respect for each other, provides a beautiful example of Nouwen living out his faith to a world that does not always want to engage in that faith. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

I am a non-Christian and read this book after reading about Nouwen in Tim Madigan's book on Mr Rogers. Nouwen sounded like a man who lived his faith in a beautiful and attractive way, and I wanted to read the writing that so inspired Madigan and Mr Rogers.

As another reviewer pointed out, as a non-Christian I did get the distinct impression that Nouwen didn't think I was going to burn in hell, which is at odds with what I have read from every other Christian writer besides Philip Gulley and Anne Lamott. So if you are trying to convert someone, this is a loving and appealing book to give someone that will showcase the faith in a light that would attract a non-believer. However, don't be surprised if that nonbeliever feels led to live in a more attractive way but does not embrace Christ, since the book doesn't try to convince one in that direction.

Because of this, I found it a great read. I usually put books down if I feel they are pushing the conversion angle too hard, because I am not converting, I am just finding out how other people think and exploring different belief systems. This book gently nudges people towards feeling embraced by God and led to lead a life of service and care to others. There were many parts that moved me to tears. Nouwen has a quiet way of speaking and I found his religious philosophy and example inspiring and open enough to include me and other non-believers.

Henri Nouwen has such a vulnerable and personal writing style. I enjoyed this book as a practicing and faithful Catholic. It has definitely helped me understand God's place for me in this world as His beloved. It gave me some things to meditate on as a Catholic and how better I can serve Him as well as living a beloved life centered on God.

Life of the Beloved is among the final books published by Nouwen, and in that way is kind of a culmination of much of his life and thought and is thought by many to be his "flagship" work. Truly, it doesn't get much better than this. Reading this book as a Christian can be a mind and, hence, life altering experience. It was written to some of Henri's non-Christian friends about how much God loves them (which is certainly true!). And from the way Henri's life consistently pointed towards Jesus and the Gospel, I am sure that his friendship, love, and words to them in conversation were used by God for the good of the hearers. On that note, I would caution using this book alone as something to give to your non-Christian friends; because as Henri used it, it is best backed up by your life, love for your friends, and pointing them towards Jesus in your day to day life, and not as a gift without a relationship.
The book is clear, and ultra-concise (you could probably read it in a day or two); yet, the message, of how to live as the Beloved of God amidst a world where there are lies about your identity at every turn, could not be more fundamental to how a Christian lives their life. I wholeheartedly recommend and in fact strongly encourage all Christians to read this book.

Beautifully poetic in thought and substance, I could write quote upon quote. Speaking. Resonating. Inspiriting my very core. Instilling. Affirming recognition, I am the Beloved. No more or less than each hearer or reader or other whether aware or unaware. Thus no comparison amongst the Beloved. Rather a generous desire to make others aware of their Belovedness.

And with that recognition, desire to become more within it. A heart of gratitude overflowing for God's Blessing of Love. Living in the Light of that Love we speak Blessing to others..."the most significant affirmation we can offer."

Thus a guide book that not only inspires, but instructs in walking out the thoughts so richly expressed.

This is the second time I ventured outside the evangelical / protestant circles, and I was amazed at the simplicity with which this author was able to present some pretty deep material.

Writing for his friend, the easy-going style is even easier to read, like speaking to a friend. Each of the four main chapters ends with two or three action points, or suggestions on how to deal with the problems we encounter living in a materialistic world, but wanting to live in a spiritual way.

The good author is gone now, but his many books are available for us all. A very good alternative the usual a,b,c ... 1,2,3 stuff I was used to.

Nouwen reveals in "Life of the Beloved" a sacred view of life in the ordinary places of our daily lives. Unlike the thinking which is so common to our modern age which separates the sacred from the ordinary, Nouwen invites us into the sacred life of God in the midst of the ordinary. He does this through the four actions of Jesus at the Last Supper: Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given. For another Crossroad book which sees the sacred in the midst of the ordinary daily challenge of parenting, look into THE FAMILY CLOISTER: BENEDICTINE WISDOM FOR THE HOME, by David Robinson (New York, NY: Crossroad, 2000, 192pp., paper).

There is one review that gives this book one star and that reflects in the overall rating. This is a five star book. I listened to it on tape. When he shared about how his life can be described as either being taken (chosen), blessed, broken or given by Christ I pulled the car over to the side of the road and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for the revelation that came from that simple word. You don't have to agree 100% with Henri's doctrine to read him, and those who pass him over or this book over because he cannot fit in your theological box will miss a great treasure.

This book is truly life-changing. I read this book after borrowing it from the library. I rarely buy books that I have already read, but this one is an exception. It is so full of wisdom that I want to carry it with me and read it often. Nouwen's writing is extremely clear and accessible, he is speaking to the reader as a good friend. And yet, his message could not be more profound. He leads us to a transformation of life that frees us from our deepest obstacles to joy in our lives. There is nothing more liberating than learning to become God's "Beloved", and thus becoming who we were made to be.

Great book on understanding how to become Jesus/God beloved. I am a believer and Nouwen does a great job of communicating how you live spiritually in a secular world, but apparently to unbelievers (which is to whom this book was written) they can't relate. This will make more sense when you read the book, but it is worth a read and some margin to think through what Nouwen is telling us.

Life of the Beloved is an apologia written by Henri Nouwen to his secular friends. This is an up-to-date version of other books that have appeared for many years, and it is very relevant to life in the twenty first century. Although, as Nouwen admits, this book will probably not convert secularists to people living in the Spirit, but it does give an excellent summary of Nouwen's other writings and a great overview of what in means to live in the Kingdom of God - to be one of God's beloved. It is an uplifting and reaffirming book.

i read Nouwen's 'the life of the beloved' yesterday and was moved by its simplicity and wisdom. the main theme of the book is that each person is God's beloved child, uniquely loved and gifted by God. Nouwen bases this theme from the story of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River by John the Wilderness Prophet when the Spirit of God came down and a voice was heard proclaiming Jesus as God's beloved son in whom he is well pleased.

Nouwen expands the idea of belovedness to a communion metaphor, explaining that while each person is factly the beloved we must learn to become that which we are. Nouwen uses four themes from the sacremental act - 1) taking/chosing; 2) blessing; 3) breaking; 4) giving. He describes the process of becoming the beloved as our learning to live as people who are chosen by God, blessed by him, stuck in a broken world, and ultimately finding our highest fulfillment in being given to others.

it is a moving book that is easy to read. Nouwen lays things out clearly and offers suggestions that are practical and light for groiwng in our understanding of being the beloved. the idea that God has chosen each of us and has speokn words blessing into our life is not profound or new, but owning this fact and letting it impact the deepest parts of us is something that not a few Christ-followers today struggle with.

how much different would this world be if its people were gripped by the fact that God is a lover who wants to be loved by his creation? how much different if people spoke words of blessing to one another rather than condemnation and judgement? how much different if we grew in strength and faith through our brokeness instead of becoming hardened and depressed? how much different if people's sole focus was to give themselves away to one another in loving acts and relationship instead of exploition and selfish ambition?

'the life of the beloved' can be read in a couple hours, but putting its principles into play is something that requires much more time and intentionality to accomplish. the length of journey should not be a deterient however. what else is life about, besides partnering with God to become the way he designed us to be and to help him in reclaiming this world from the darknesss that engulfs it. beocming the beloved and living in the light of this truth will go a long way in a kingdom of God mission.

Here is Henri Nouwen at the pinnicle of his writing. "Life of the Beloved" moves the reader from the baptism and transfiguration narratives of Jesus when God says "This is my beloved son..." to her/himself. "YOU are the beloved of God!"
Nouwen has helped many of his readers to indeed know that they are loved by God. Here is an invitation to healing and wholeness. There is nothing trite in these 119 pages. This is Gospel reflection and preaching. Get it! You'll be glad you did!

Henri Nouwen's Life of the Beloved provides the reader with a look at how we are all blessed, broken, and given in the Name of the Lord. He originally wrote the book for a friend who asked him about God and spirituality. Nouwen provides the reader with an insight into how God's choosing each one of us as His beloved does not necessarily mean anyone is excluded, a paradox which our society fails to understand and thus rejects. A very insightful book, that is very imporant to me in my journey of faith. Nouwen was a Catholic priest, and I recommend his works to all, especially Catholics.

I agree with other reviewers who say this book is mainly for Christians who struggle with living in this world. The author speaks in a very down to earth manner with his own struggles in life which I certainly associated with. This is a short read, but quite moving and touching. I plan to reread it and take notes to post on the fridge so as not to forget the important steps needed to live the life of the beloved.

This book will give you a lot to think about. It is written in a very easy way for the reader. It is very loving and i can feel the care in the text. I have heard a lot about the author when i lived in Denmark, but i really never had a chance to read anything that was written by him. Great book and im excited to reqd more by him in the future
Thank you so much

Emil

Life of the Beloved is an excellent book to get in touch with
our daily spiritual life. I find that Nouwen reminds me of how much I am beloved by God. As a Religious,there is comfort for me in being blessed, broken and given. I took this book to heart. As Jesus took bread, He blessed, He broke, and He gave. This was His life. I understand how blessed I am to be alive and called by name to be loved and to love others in all creation. I am also called to be broken through trials, difficulties, pain and rejections. Yet I am aware of my unity with the sufferings of Him who calls me His Beloved. I feel and share in the sufferings of those who care and love me. I am being given as a gift to this world, just as i am, willing to share the talents given me with and for others in joy. Giving of oneself, says Nouwen is to become closer to the Beloved. God gave us Jesus, whom He blessed, and who was broken by His death on the cross, all because He was the Beloved of God. I, too, am the Beloved.
I recommend this spiritual book for anyone on a faith journey, seeking the embrace of God for all eternity. Nouwen's words challenge us to look deeply within our spiritual life in order to enrich it and know the tenderness of being the Beloved.

I have read several of Nouwen's books and this is one of my favorites. He writes from a totally different perspective in an effort to speak to the community of one of his closest friends (of a different faith). Nouwen explores the concept that we are all called as being beloved and that we all feel that deep within.
I was very impressed that in the epilogue Nouwen humbly acknowledges his own shortcomings in the book's ability to speak to those outside his own faith. While Nouwen may not have succeeded (in his mind) with the book's original intent - as a non-catholic this book spoke deeply to me in regard to our being called.

I loved the tone in which this book was written- very upbeat, to the point and direct. I also really liked how it did not exclude anyone from God's love. This book is a great reminder that we're all loved very much by God, and we should all express our love and thanks for each other as much as possible. As a Christian it's sometimes easy to forget some of the simple things and these words of encouragement were fantastic to read. This book was recommended to me by a wonderful person and I have read it twice since getting it- my only complaint is it's a bit short!

This is my third time reading "Life of the Beloved." Every time, I come away encouraged and cheered. In the midst of busyness, needing to be productive, and striving to remain competitive it is refreshing to be told, "You are loved and chosen; it's OK not to be perfect; what you have to offer others will have an impact. So go for it!" Truly good news of which I need to be reminded frequently!

This book not only met the needs of my spiritual journey but gave me much food for thought. It is very positive (which I really needed) and then sent a zinger at the end that is very thought provoking. As a minister myself, it helped me so much I will re-read it over and over again and recommend it to many others.

Life changing. Nouwen articulated what I feel happened in my life not long ago. I was worn out trying to build and protect 'an image of me' from external circumstances. God gently showed me that being Beloved by Him was all that I needed. This breakthrough (image) brought instant peace and continues to do so today. This book made sense of God's peace that transcends understanding.

I am not sure what is more asinine here, Fred, a "secular Jew" (which translated precisely should obviously read "atheist"), asking a Catholic priest to transpose said priest's Christian ethic/worldview, devoid of God, into a treatise for a secular audience to use as a spiritual guide that "speaks to us," or Nouwen actually thinking he could actually pull it off. The only thing more asinine is both men being sorely disappointed that Nouwen couldn't.

Darwin award, anyone?

And these are supposedly both "gifted" men.

Needless to ask, what happens when you attempt such an endeavor? Apparently this hot mess of vacillation that "isn't sure if it is coming or going," to borrow from the colloquial. Whatever the case, I am honestly not sure what either were thinking in making such a Faustian bargain, or maybe that is just it, they weren't.

This is a lovely book, written in an easy-to-read format, which makes the reader feel chosen and special. The author has many books to his credit, but I especially like this one, and bought several copies to give as gifts.

I picked this up at a book sale because it's written by Nouwen and he's an author I always grab if I can. I hated it. It's fluffy, saccharine and weak. I get that he is writing for secular Jews. I get that it's not for Christians. But seriously, it's so fru-fru. There is nothing about WHY we need Christ. I agree that it is nice to hear God loves us, and how much He loves us. But this sort of nonsense is what let's people think they can be Christian without facing sin and repentance. This isn't to say there weren't some good points and quotes. But not enough to redeem this work. I would not recommend this unless someone specifically told me this is what they struggled with. I'm sure there are people who would find this book to say just want they need to hear about God. But for me, I think there are better works out there.

Beautifully poetic in thought and substance, I could write quote upon quote. Speaking. Resonating. Inspiriting my very core. Instilling. Affirming recognition, I am the Beloved. No more or less than each hearer or reader or other whether aware or unaware. Thus no comparison amongst the Beloved. Rather a generous desire to make others aware of their Belovedness.

And with that recognition, desire to become more within it. A heart of gratitude overflowing for God's Blessing of Love. Living in the Light of that Love we speak Blessing to others..."the most significant affirmation we can offer."

Thus a guide book that not only inspires, but instructs in walking out the thoughts so richly expressed.

The fact that this book has received some 30 glowing reviews (above and below) absolutely boggles my mind. Have any of these people ever read something called....The Bible??? This book was written by Nouwen to some non-believing friends. It does not offer the gospel message-but instead a gospel of Nouwen's imagination. Many reviewers seem to like this heretical work because it makes them feel good. Of course this is consistent with what Paul wrote in that false leaders will teach people what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). How do we judge the accuracy of a supposed Christian work? Paul told us to "test all things"(1 Thes. 5: 21), meaning according to the truths of scripture. Doing so, Nouwen's book fails miserably.

His three-fold premise seems to be, a) all human beings are chosen by God, b) all human beings are beloved by God in the same kind of intimate relational sense in which Christ is beloved by the Father and c) all human beings are children of God. These are all utterly in conflict with scripture. The Bible teaches us that only Christians are chosen of God (1 Peter 1: 1-2) Nonbelievers are children of wrath, dead in trespasses and sin, without hope and without God (Ephesians 2: 3, 5, 12) and only those who receive him are his children (John 1: 12) Nouwen doesn't even remotely allude to these crucial facts or to the issue of eternal life and eternal judgment.
And he writes not one word about the requirements to repent and believe in faith. Nouwen's implicit message seems to be "You are already saved, you just have to realize it."

He writes " 'You are my beloved' [a Biblical statement by God to Christ] revealed the most intimate truth about all human beings, whether they belong to any particular tradition or not....Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will satisfy your thirst. I will not hide my face from you. You know me as your own as I know you as my own. You belong to me. I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover, and your spouse..yes, even your child...wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one." Remember, he is saying this to nonbelievers, and implying God is in a relationship with them when he is not. So his words are utter heresy. If you are a nonbeliever, God offers you his gospel message but until you accept it, you are utterly separated from Him-period, end of discussion.

For those who are nonbelievers and are looking for God's truth, this horrendous work IS NOT THE BOOK. First and foremost, PLEASE READ THE BIBLE. For a wonderful Biblical supplement, please read "Peace With God" by Billy Graham.

I hated this book. As a christian with questions this book did nothing for me. The author had a very interesting take on the chosen people of Jesus. This book is all about broken people and I came out of it utterly depressed. I read it twice back to back and really do not understand why it has so many great reviews. It seems he sort of created this quasi religion out of some of his half baked beliefs and the very non-faithful beliefs of a bunch of his liberal academic friends. I would never recommend this book to anyone who has questions or doubts.

This is the first book I've read by Henri Nouwen. I had heard good things about his devotional style, but I found this particular book to be quite unbiblical and his theology to be something of his own making.

He is writing this book for his Jewish friend and some other non-christian aquaintances. However it's utterly devoid of biblical truth as it relates to faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation. He mentions Jesus maybe three times in the whole book, and that to merely quote him as some moral teacher, not as Savior. Nouwen encourages his friend to embrace the faith of his heritage, pointing him toward his grandmother as a good example of a person who held strongly to her Jewish beliefs. He tells his friend to realize his "chosen-ness", but the Bible says that only those who are in Christ Jesus are chosen. It appears that Nouwen thinks that any type of faith is beneficial and powerful, but faith in and of itself is useless - faith is only as meaningful as the object of one's faith. People can go around saying they have faith, as is very common in our post-modern culture, but who or what is your faith built upon? Only faith in Jesus Christ will prove powerful and true.

Nouwen continually tells his friend to embrace "his truth". What truth? Do we all have different truths? I have no idea what he means by this. Christianity holds to ONE truth - we don't all have our own. How confusing is that?

Not one time does Nouwen explain the gospel - that we are to repent of our sins, turn to Jesus Christ alone for our salvation and hope, accept His forgiveness and His righteousness, and live by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no mention in this book about any eternal consequences for our actions. In the epilogue Nouwen writes that he was unsuccessful in advising his friend on how to live spiritually in a secular world. In my opinion this is because he has written a bunch of fluff, something that could've been written by Oprah Winfrey.

If this book was written for Christians I might have given it a couple more stars, but I cannot get past the fact that he has led his friends to believe that they can continue on their life journeys embracing some quasi-I'm-chosen-by-God-because-I'm-special faith, instead of pointing them toward the One who gives us undeserved grace and mercy, and the scriptures that answer the questions about human life, suffering, and salvation. I do not recommend this book, and can't believe so many people gave it 5 stars. Maybe I'll give Henri Nouwen another chance, but I'm not sure I can crack open another one of his books.

Mr. Nouwen has written a beautifully lyrical set of thoughts encouraging anyone on this planet to think of spiritual things in a very personal way. He set down the words as though he truly loves, as much as is humanly possible, any reader, and I found myself drawn to reading the book because of that apparent love. Thank you, Mr. Nouwen, for writing this book.

As expected with Henri Nouwen, an inspiring book. Shipper refunded my money when, on preparing it for shipment, they found a couple of pages marked that they hadn't seen before. Was very impressed with that.

The fact that this book has received some 30 glowing reviews (above and below) absolutely boggles my mind. Have any of these people ever read something called....The Bible??? This book was written by Nouwen to some non-believing friends. It does not offer the gospel message-but instead a gospel of Nouwen's imagination. Many reviewers seem to like this heretical work because it makes them feel good. Of course this is consistent with what Paul wrote in that false leaders will teach people what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). How do we judge the accuracy of a supposed Christian work? Paul told us to "test all things"(1 Thes. 5: 21), meaning according to the truths of scripture. Doing so, Nouwen's book fails miserably.

His three-fold premise seems to be, a) all human beings are chosen by God, b) all human beings are beloved by God in the same kind of intimate relational sense in which Christ is beloved by the Father and c) all human beings are children of God. These are all utterly in conflict with scripture. The Bible teaches us that only Christians are chosen of God (1 Peter 1: 1-2) Nonbelievers are children of wrath, dead in trespasses and sin, without hope and without God (Ephesians 2: 3, 5, 12) and only those who receive him are his children (John 1: 12) Nouwen doesn't even remotely allude to these crucial facts or to the issue of eternal life and eternal judgment.
And he writes not one word about the requirements to repent and believe in faith. Nouwen's implicit message seems to be "You are already saved, you just have to realize it."

He writes " 'You are my beloved' [a Biblical statement by God to Christ] revealed the most intimate truth about all human beings, whether they belong to any particular tradition or not....Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will satisfy your thirst. I will not hide my face from you. You know me as your own as I know you as my own. You belong to me. I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover, and your spouse..yes, even your child...wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one." Remember, he is saying this to nonbelievers, and implying God is in a relationship with them when he is not. So his words are utter heresy. If you are a nonbeliever, God offers you his gospel message but until you accept it, you are utterly separated from Him-period, end of discussion.

For those who are nonbelievers and are looking for God's truth, this horrendous work IS NOT THE BOOK. First and foremost, PLEASE READ THE BIBLE. For a wonderful Biblical supplement, please read "Peace With God" by Billy Graham.

I hated this book. As a christian with questions this book did nothing for me. The author had a very interesting take on the chosen people of Jesus. This book is all about broken people and I came out of it utterly depressed. I read it twice back to back and really do not understand why it has so many great reviews. It seems he sort of created this quasi religion out of some of his half baked beliefs and the very non-faithful beliefs of a bunch of his liberal academic friends. I would never recommend this book to anyone who has questions or doubts.

This is the first book I've read by Henri Nouwen. I had heard good things about his devotional style, but I found this particular book to be quite unbiblical and his theology to be something of his own making.

He is writing this book for his Jewish friend and some other non-christian aquaintances. However it's utterly devoid of biblical truth as it relates to faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation. He mentions Jesus maybe three times in the whole book, and that to merely quote him as some moral teacher, not as Savior. Nouwen encourages his friend to embrace the faith of his heritage, pointing him toward his grandmother as a good example of a person who held strongly to her Jewish beliefs. He tells his friend to realize his "chosen-ness", but the Bible says that only those who are in Christ Jesus are chosen. It appears that Nouwen thinks that any type of faith is beneficial and powerful, but faith in and of itself is useless - faith is only as meaningful as the object of one's faith. People can go around saying they have faith, as is very common in our post-modern culture, but who or what is your faith built upon? Only faith in Jesus Christ will prove powerful and true.

Nouwen continually tells his friend to embrace "his truth". What truth? Do we all have different truths? I have no idea what he means by this. Christianity holds to ONE truth - we don't all have our own. How confusing is that?

Not one time does Nouwen explain the gospel - that we are to repent of our sins, turn to Jesus Christ alone for our salvation and hope, accept His forgiveness and His righteousness, and live by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no mention in this book about any eternal consequences for our actions. In the epilogue Nouwen writes that he was unsuccessful in advising his friend on how to live spiritually in a secular world. In my opinion this is because he has written a bunch of fluff, something that could've been written by Oprah Winfrey.

If this book was written for Christians I might have given it a couple more stars, but I cannot get past the fact that he has led his friends to believe that they can continue on their life journeys embracing some quasi-I'm-chosen-by-God-because-I'm-special faith, instead of pointing them toward the One who gives us undeserved grace and mercy, and the scriptures that answer the questions about human life, suffering, and salvation. I do not recommend this book, and can't believe so many people gave it 5 stars. Maybe I'll give Henri Nouwen another chance, but I'm not sure I can crack open another one of his books.