Reaching Out…Part 2

Review of the book, Reaching Out, written by Storm Hendrickson

Henri J. M. Nouwen (1975) says, "Don't we often look at the many events of our lives as big or small interruptions, interrupting many of our plans, projects, and life schemes"(p. 52)? Don't we feel an inner protest when someone interrupts us when we are trying to read, bad weather our summer, illness our well-scheduled plans, the death of a close friend our peaceful state of mind, or many harsh realities of life our good dreams and future goals? The seemingly unending row of interruptions create feelings of anger, frustration, and sometimes revenge, in our hearts.

       "But what if our interruptions are in fact our opportunities, if they are challenges to an inner response by which growth takes place and through which we come to the fullness of being? What if the events of our history are molding us as a sculptor molds his clay, and if it is only in a careful obedience to these molding hands that we can discover our real vocation and become mature people? What if all the unexpected interruptions are in fact the invitations to give up old-fashioned and out-molded styles of living and are opening up new unexplored areas of experience? And finally, what if our history does not prove to be a blind impersonal sequence of events over which we have no control, but rather reveals to us a guiding hand pointing to a personal encounter in which all our hopes and aspirations will reach their fulfillment? Then our life would indeed be a different life because then fate becomes opportunity, wounds a warning and paralysis an invitation to search for deeper sources of vitality. Then we can look for hope in the middle of crying cities, burning hospitals and desperate parents and children. Then we can cast off the temptation of despair", well stated by Henri J. M. Nouwen (p. 53, 1975).

       Henri J. M Nouwen (1975) states, "The movement from loneliness to solitude is a movement by which we reach out to our innermost being to find there our great healing powers, not as a unique property to be defended but as a gift to be shared with all human beings. And so, the movement from loneliness to solitude leads us spontaneously to the movement from hostility to hospitality" (p. 62).

       I gave Henri J. M Nouwen's words concerning the move from loneliness to solitude much thought. My understanding is that we need to spend some quiet time, away from the distractions of the world, in order to turn loneliness into solitude. However, once this change has been made, a sense of solitude and inner peace can exist even in the midst of noise, busy lives, and distractions. We need to remind ourselves that it is ok to have time for self. We need to change the way we view life events that typically cause us to feel loneliness, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. Turn every situation into a time for learning, an opportunity and chance to mature. A free moment can be an excellent time to enjoy the simple pleasure of life that usually go unnoticed for one reason or another. When we take the time to examine our inner self and determine what causes us to waver from loneliness to solitude and back to loneliness again, we will discover a way to obtain a healthy balance that brings true contentment in all circumstances. When we are content and have solitude of the heart, we also develop true compassion for people and the world around us.

©Women’s Focus Ministries, All Rights Reserved

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What do you do to provide yourself some time to feel alone and to center yourself? Do you really thing that we deserve to take time for yourselves?

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