From Hostility to Hospitality: A Necessary Journey
Last week I looked at the journey from Loneliness to Solitude, the first of the three movements towards spiritual growth outlined in Henri Nouwen’s inspiring book, Reaching Out. Today we look at the second transformation – a journey described by Nouwen as being from hostility to hospitality. Perhaps like me, your first response to this invitation is a defensive, “No, I don’t think this one has anything in it for me. I’m not an aggressive person, and what’s more, I like a wide range of people (I genuinely do), and my natural posture towards others tends to...
Read MoreRefresh: Is Grey the New Green?
Since this post originally appeared in 2016 I’ve entered the grey brigade, so read with some interest what I wrote when I was still in my fifties! Is Grey the New Green? On a recent flight back from New Zealand I got to watch The Intern. To be honest it is largely forgettable, but in my opinion it did have one memorable line – ‘grey is the new green’ – that in explanation of the companies decision to employ elderly interns as a gesture of social responsibility and as a way of recycling former abilities. What do you think? Is grey the new green? It is becoming an...
Read MoreFrom Loneliness to Solitude: Practicing the Presence of God
In his wonderful book, Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen suggests there are three key movements in the spiritual life. There is the movement from loneliness to solitude; from hostility to hospitality; and from illusion to prayer. Nouwen views each as an important part of our journey of spiritual ascent, the goal of which is union with God. The first explores our relationship with our own self, the second our relationship with others and the third our relationship with God. I recently preached on the first movement, and have been thinking about it since. Here are some of my thoughts on the journey...
Read MoreRefresh: And Every Step an Arrival – The Gift of the Present Moment
Today’s Refresh post, originally published on 12 Jan 2016, explores the thought provoking Rilke line, “and every step an arrival” which serves as an important reminder to note the present moment and embrace it as a God inhabited space. Refresh: And Every Step an Arrival – The Gift of the Present Moment I am presently reading Eugene Peterson’s wonderful biography The Pastor which has on its front cover Rilke’s memorable line ‘every step an arrival’. It reflects Peterson’s own conviction that when all is said and done, the work of a pastor is not...
Read MoreTo Tend and to Keep: The Joy of Nurturing and Protecting
I’m part of AVENIR Leadership Institute and was recently in Brisbane helping a client devise their strategic plan for the next 5 years. Their CEO, Matt Vandepeer, started one of our days with a beautiful devotion based on Genesis 2:15, “the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” The two key words struck me as deeply significant. To “tend” and to “keep”. There is both a nurturing and a protective part. Even in paradise there was work to be done (or is it especially in paradise there was work to be done –...
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