The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society | Henri Nouwen

The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society | Henri Nouwen | The Wounded Heler

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The Wounded Healer...

	The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society Henri Nouwen Image, 1979 - 128 pages average customer review:based on 20 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The Wounded Healer is a hope-filled and profoundly simple book that speaks directly to those men and women who want to be of service in their church or community, but have found the traditional ways often threatening and ineffective. In this book, Henri Nouwen combines creative case studies of ministry with stories from diverse cultures and religious traditions in preparing a new model for ministry. Weaving keen cultural analysis with his psychological and religious insights, Nouwen has come up with a balanced and creative theology of service that begins with the realization of fundamental woundedness in human nature. Emphasizing that which is in humanity common to both minister and believer, this woundedness can serve as a source of strength and healing when counseling others. Nouwen proceeds to develop his approach to ministry with an analysis of sufferings -- a suffering world, a suffering generation, a suffering person, and a suffering minister. It is his contention that ministers are called to recognize the sufferings of their time in their own hearts and make that recognition the starting point of their service. For Nouwen, ministers must be willing to go beyond their professional role and leave themselves open as fellow human beings with the same wounds and suffering -- in the image of Christ. In other words, we heal from our own wounds. Filled with examples from everyday experience, The Wounded Healer is a thoughtful and insightful guide that will be welcomed by anyone engaged in the service of others.

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Enlightened?

The ability to heal even though a person has been wounded is an extraordinary message. Hence the appropriate title for this book. The author proposes that the spiritual counselor relate to their directee from their own personal experiences. He suggests that it is through reaching within oneself that those in this kind of service can truly be of help. Nouwen validates the experiences of many in this or allied professions; that we uncover our own pain and weaknesses as we attempt to guide others.This affirmation is valuable. In healing others, the counselor is healed. In being able to recognize and share our own pain, we can better serve.

Nouwen offers a cultural backdrop to explain why this approach works. The time is the late 60's. Forty years later, some of his conclusions have not been borne out. A notable one in my opinion, is the story of Peter. Nouwen builds the case for "nuclear man" as a premise for his theories. I suggest that perhaps Peter was an enlightened man. Read the book and see if you come to the same or other conclusions. In any case, it will make you think.

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The Wounded Heler

Henri Nouwen is very insightful and adds a wonderful dimension in my quest for a deeper faith.

A Powerful and Inspiring Book

Henri Nouwen's book is an incredibly inspiring and motivating tool. Characteristic of much of his writing, the book is honest, bold and clear. Nouwen tells it like it is, and shares authentically from his own life. Personally, I find authors who are unafraid to include their own joys and struggles with their spiritual lives to provide me with so much more hope, and challenge. I recommend this book to anyone thinking about what it means to be a leader, thinker, or seeking to deal with their own wounds.

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Nouwen, again at his best

This is a magnificent addition to my library. His description of each "wounded" healer suggests nuances that I'd never thought about. The volume helps me to understand a bit better the responsibilities we have to support one another. A great book.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

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