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Loading... The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society (original 1979; edition 1979)by Henri Nouwen
Work InformationThe Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society by Henri J. M. Nouwen (1979)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Noting that modern man is above all a suffering man, he is psychologically wounded by lack of hope, my loneliness, by the predicament of rootlessness, professor Nouwen explains why the minister of today can only help others deal with these problems if he is willing to go beyond his professional role and leave himself open as a fellow human being with his own wounds and suffering. Henri's writing becomes more and more familiar and comforting as I read more of his work. His style of organization follows a pattern that makes his approach clear and simple. The wounded healer, someone who stays present to his or her own experience while connecting with and supporting others, continues to ring wise and true. Several aspects of the book felt dated and were frequent enough to be distracting to me as a reader, for example, the phrase post-nuclear man and the repeated use of the male pronoun to frame references to leadership and ministry. Nevertheless, a worthwhile addition to my morning reflection. "When the imitation of Christ does not mean to live a life like Christ, but to live your life as authentically as Christ lived his, then there are many ways and forms in which a man can be a Christian." 99 I've read only two of Nouwen's books so far, and just from those I can say his books warrant a 2nd and maybe a 3rd reading. His insights are rich, dense, and provoke a lot of contemplation. This is most definitely not a book to peruse through, but something to meditate on. I love the title- it perfectly describes the subject of this marvelous short book. People in helping professions develop their compassion and ability to help heal others by being wounded themselves, just as Christ was wounded. Highly recommend this book for pastors, counselors and anyone who wants to help others. no reviews | add a review
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"Nouwen at his best." -Best Sellers "A lucid and profoundly simple book." -America "One's overall response to this book has to be 'Yes.' Yes, this describes a style of ministry desperately needed by all of us." -The Christian Century What does it mean to be a minister in our modern world? In this hope-filled book, Nouwen offers a fresh interpretation of modern ministry. Here he offers inspiration to men and women who want to be of service in their Church or community but who have found the traditional ways of ministry alienating and ineffective. According to Nouwen, "the minister is called to recognize the sufferings of his time in his own heart and make that recognition the starting point of his service.". No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)253Religions Christian pastoral theology, homiletics and religious orders Pastoral Ministry; Pastoral TheologyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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