Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life

by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Book Overview

With clarity and depth characteristic of the classics, this spiritual bestseller from the author of The Return of the Prodigal Son lays out a perceptive and insightful plan for the spiritual life and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385236824
• Release Date: August 1986
• Publisher: Image
• Length: 165 Pages
• Weight: 0.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.4" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

A lifeline for the weary Christian - refreshing and renewing

This is my second taste of Nouwen, and it has been even better than the first ("The Inner Voice of Love"). This book is a valuable component of the amazing turnaround of my depression.Some Christians say that when you find yourself burnt out and needy, you should go back to the basics. They offer no new solutions, and point you back to daily quiet times and church attendance and service. But here is a book that offers a completely new and refreshing look at God and life. It offers a chance to slow down, to deal with your own heart and soul before rushing to "perform" as a Christian should. Nouwen shows that only when we take time to love and hear ourselves, to become comfortable with who we are and be content with solitute, only after those steps are taken can we reach out to others in true love. We simply must love ourselves and deal with our hurts and needs before we can help and learn from others.We often reach out to others when we are hurting. We are afraid to deal alone with our needs. We are desperately seeking someone or something to drown out our own voice, to give us new answers. We watch television, listen to music, read books, socialize. This book points us back into ourselves. For we are indeed God's children, and the Spirit is in us. When we learn to be still, we can offer that very stillness and peace to others. We can commune with God in prayer. We can break the illusions of business, of our circumstance ruling us. And we can once again be in touch with ourselves, others, and our God. This is a life-changing, pain-shattering book. In these pages, we meet the Healer, the God who loves us infinitely and takes the time to fill us up and heal our wounds. We meet the God who gives us the peace to live a centered life, not a chaotic one.

Practical philosopy, engaging theology

As a Christian for 40 some years, I have searched for ways to more effectively live out my devotion to God. Nouwin's book Reaching Out came into my life after 40 some years in a legalistic cultish church and about 3 years in a more grace-filled church where I made some major moral mistakes.Nouwin's perceptive and astute words described my experience so well. "...we constantly find ourselves clinging to people, books, events, experiences, projects and plans, secretly hoping that this time it will be different. We keep experimenting with many types of anesthetics, we keep finding "psychic numbing" often more agreeable than the sharpening of our inner sensitivities."His prompting to turn loneliness into solitude where I can possible hear myself and God has been like water in the desert to me. I look forward to the time usually each day where I set the timer and try to empty my mind of noise and hopefully "descend with the mind into the heart"

"Reaching Out" - This book has changed my life!

Henri J. M. Nouwen opened the path for me to understand how I interact and react to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the things and people of our world. For many years I have worshipped God. I never realized that I was doing so on my terms, not His. My interaction with other people was based on my need for control, not the needs of others even though I considered myself a caring person. Henri Nouwen opened my eyes to damage I was doing to others and myself. "Reaching Out" changed my attitudes, understanding, and heart.If you are serious about walking in Jesus's steps, try "Reaching Out". Your walk with God will never be the same.

Spiritual Direction

For anyone starting or exploring their spirituality, this is a great book to get you headed in the correct direction.As a novice in my spiritual development, I have found this book to be a very useful guide.

A blessing to all reader

It takes me a long time to finish this book. I just could not stop going back to the previous chapters, reflected on it and amazed by the insight and spiritual depth of Nouwen. I read it in bed times, and in the subway. Whenever I go into the lines, my spirit was lifted up high, thanking God who let me know myself and Him more. The 3 movements: from loneliness to solitude; hostility to hospitality; illusion to prayer are all essential elements of the answer to the question "how to live a spirit-filled life in the name of Jesus Christ". Each sections are as wonderful and unmissable as the others. This book gave me a brand new dimension of understanding on "Christian's spiritual life", on caring and interacting with others and on the nature of our Almighty God. I was so impressed that I spent several nights translating around 10 pages in the second part into Chinese and read it in my church fellowship. I thank Him again and again for leading me to read this.