Paul Tournier (1898-1986) was a Swiss physician and author whose books significantly impacted the way we think about pastoral care. It has been claimed that he was the most famous Christian physician of the twentieth century, and his work continues to influence the way spiritual and psychosocial aspects of patient care are considered. Some of his better known books include:
The Healing of Persons
Escape from Loneliness
The Meaning of Persons
The Strong and the Weak
Guilt and Grace
To Understand Each Other
A Place for You
The Naming of Persons
Creative Suffering
and he wrote many others as well.
Here are three Tournier quotes to ponder this Monday…
“Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets.” – Paul Tournier
“Everything that is worthwhile in life is scary. Choosing a school, choosing a career, getting married, having kids – all those things are scary. If it is not fearful, it is not worthwhile.” – Paul Tournier
“At the heart of personality is the need to feel a sense of being lovable without having to qualify for that acceptance.” – Paul Tournier
