Whatever He Says

Susan just emailed me about the poem I gave to Henri Nouwen. She said, "I'm probably wrong,  but wasn't it "Simply Being"?  The one about the horses in the field near the Dawson Manor where Upper Canada Mall is now?" and she's right! When Dave asked, in a comment on my previous blog post, if I still had the poem and could I share it, I had this feeling that it had been "Simply Being," but talked myself out of it and into the other one, "With Open Hands." Anyway, with thanks to my intrepid fact editor, here is the correct poem, which was, as Susan said, inspired, by the sight of some horses galloping across a field that was beside the mall. With their manes flying, they were utterly free spirited. I was leaving the mall when I saw them, having found my joy in buying "stuff," and was struck by the contrast with their joy in "simply being." What joy there is in simply being Touching, tasting, thinking, seeing, C...

My friend Dave asked about the poem I mentioned in yesterday's post about  Henri Nouwen . I am not sure if it was this poem that I wrote out on the scroll, but this one was inspired by his book, With Open Hands . I want to emphasize that the poem was written as an aspiration or prayer, and not reality lived! :)  With open hands I stand before the world, I lay my weapons down for Jesus' sake, Naked, unclothed, defenceless--it's my choice Because I know that he my hand will take. With open arms, Lord, let me love the world, And never fear rejection, scorn or pain, Or, if I fear, don't let me falter Lord, Remind me that our weakness is your gain. With open heart, accepting, loving, kind, With openness of spirit let me love, Lord, take this hardened human heart and make, A heart as warm and gentle as a dove. With open eyes please let me see myself And others as we are to you, dear Lord, So precious in your sight because the price, You paid for us, we ...

By Belinda  I watched this video clip of one of my favourite authors and mentors, Henri Nouwen. I had book-marked it to watch when I had a moment and tonight was the night I had that moment. It is just the beginning of a 30 minute video, which you can view in its entirety at www.henrinouwen.org . It made me want to watch the rest and I hope it whets your appetite too. It was so good to hear his rich Dutch-accented voice and his honest heart, challenging the listener towards God.

By Belinda On Tuesday evening, Susan sent me an email saying that this was just what she needed to read--and maybe I did too. I was busy--connecting with several people and following up on some things I had meant to do sooner, so I didn't take time to read it until this morning. What Susan sent was a link to a message by Henri Nouwen, one of my favourite authors; someone who has spoken into my life more times than I can count! Thinking about what I wrote yesterday; the longing to be something different than who God made me sometimes--well, this was the best tonic for that. I should have read it sooner. May it be a blessing to you today. I give you: A Little Henri