Retrieved

Earlier this week, I picked up one of the books I got at the previous Library Book Sales, Nouwen Then, Person Reflections on Henri. Have you ever felt that books have a timing? I bought this book on a whim several months ago and read as far as the preface before setting it aside. This morning I was so sucked in, I had to force myself to stop and catch a breath.

Here’s one of the things I read this morning that I need to mull over:

Writing is a process in which we discover what lives in us. The writing itself reveals what is alive. The deepest satisfaction of writing is precisely that it opens up new spaces within us of which we were not aware before we started to write. To write is to embark on a journey whose final destination we do not know. Thus, creative writing requires a real act of trust. We have to say to ourselves, “I do not yet know what I carry in my heart, but I trust that it will emerge as I write.” Writing is like giving away the few loaves and fishes one has, trusting that they will multiply in the giving. Once we dare to “give away” on paper the few thoughts that come to us, we start discovering how much is hidden underneath…and gradually come in touch with our own riches. (Reflections on Theological Education)

I’m going to come back to this, but here’s another thought that I just want to throw out there for you to chew on:

Jesus allowed himself to be categorized as a criminal, relinquished any reputation for respectability. In the Greek, to “empty oneself” has the sense, in this passage, of a waterfall continually pouring itself over a cliff edge. This is the kind of Jesus love that Henri Nouwen exemplified so truly, so consistently. He knew the ultimate power of continually sharing his power with the powerless.

I’m sitting here mulling on these thoughts and I looked over at the book I’ve been reading and there, stamped on the bottom edge of the pages is the word “discard.” It seems so wrong. How could they throw away such an amazing book? How could they miss its treasuredness? And that got me thinking…

How many gifts and graces do miss, discard, because I’m too busy or lazy to open them, uncover them? And the answer is: far too many. This is something I need to work on…and let it work on me.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have wonderful book calling my name.