Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life - Softcover

Nouwen, Henri J. M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0385236824 ISBN 13: 9780385236829

Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1986

Synopsis

With the clarity and depth characteristic of the classics, this spiritual bestseller lays out a perceptive and insightful plan for living a spiritual life and achieving the ultimate goal of that life -- union with God.

Nouwen views our spiritual "ascent" as evolving in three movements. The first, from loneliness to solitude, focuses on the spiritual life as it relates to the experience of our own selves. The second, from hostility to hospitality, deals with our spiritual life as a life for others. The final movement, from illusion to prayer, offers penetrating thoughts on the most mysterious relationship of all: our relationship to God. Throughout, Nouwen emphasizes that the more we understand (and not simply deny) our inner struggles, the more fully we will be able to embrace a prayerful and genuine life that is also open to others' needs.

Reaching Out is a rich book to be read, reread, pondered, and shared with others. "It does not offers answers or solutions," Nouwen cautions, "but is written in the conviction that the quest for an authentic Christian spirituality is worth the effort and the pain, since in the midst of this quest we can find signs offering hope, courage, and confidence."

About this title

Review:

The Church Times said of Reaching Out '!wide maturity, full of insight.' The Tablet said that Nouwen was 'particularly good on the whole business of knowing ourselves.' The Church of England Newspaper said that is 'explores areas of spirituality rarely touched on in our evangelical tradition.'

From the Back Cover:

This classic work of spirituality is a response to the question: 'What does it mean to live life in the Spirit of Jesus Christ?

Nouwen finds it to be a lonely business, as Dante also found when he said: 'In the middle of the way of our life I find myself in a dark wood'. However we can and must reach out to our fellow human beings and to God.

'The plan and concept of this book are excellent. Fr Nouwen is particularly good on the whole business of getting to know ourselves...he says it well and with considerable insight'.
THE TABLET

'It is quiet and impressive, giving an impression of wise maturity. At the same time it is full of insight into contemporary situations, the work of a man who has an intimate knowledge of people'.
CHURCH TIMES

'There are great riches for us to find here, as Nouwen explores areas of spirituality rarely touched on in our own evangelical tradition'.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEWSPAPER

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0385236824
• ISBN 13: 9780385236829
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160