Henri Nouwen Quotes About Enemies

Quotes about: Enemies

• To forgive another from the heart is an act of liberation. We set that person free from the negative bonds that exist between us. As long as we do not forgive we pull them with us, or worse, as a heavy load. The great temptation is to cling in anger to our enemies & then define ourselves as being offended & wounded by them. Forgiveness, therefore, liberates not only the other but also ourselves. It is the way to the freedom of the children of God.

  Henri Nouwen

  Children, Heart, Long

• That is our vocation: to convert the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.

  Henri Nouwen

  Sisterhood, Space, Fearless

  Henri Nouwen (2013). “Reaching Out”, p.64, Image

• Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.

  Henri Nouwen

  Mean, Men, Space

  Henri Nouwen (2013). “Reaching Out”, p.71, Image

• Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the Beloved.

  Henri Nouwen

  Spiritual, Self, Voice

  Henri Nouwen (2013). “Discernment: Reading the signs of daily life”, p.54, SPCK

• The real enemies of our life are the 'oughts' and the 'ifs.' They pull us backward into the unalterable past and forward into the unpredictable future. But real life takes place in the here and now.

  Henri Nouwen

  Real, Past, Enemy

  Henri J.M. Nouwen (2017). “You Are the Beloved: Daily Meditations for Spiritual Living”, Convergent Books

• A life without a lonely place, that is, a life without a quiet center, easily becomes destructive. When we cling to the results of our actions as our only way of self-identifiction, then we become possessive and defensive and tend to look at our fellow human beings more as enemies to be kept at a distance than as friends with whom we share the gifts of life.

  Henri Nouwen

  Life, Lonely, Distance

• Fear is the great enemy of intimacy. Fear makes us run away from each other or cling to each other but does not create true intimacy.

  Henri Nouwen

  Running, Enemy, Doe

  Henri Nouwen (2013). “Lifesigns: Intimacy, Fecundity, and Ecstasy in Christian Perspective”, p.18, Image

• I kept running around it in large or small circles, always looking for someone or something able to convince me of my Belovedness. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved". Being the Beloved expresses the core truth of our existence.

  Henri Nouwen

  Running, Spiritual, Self

• If fear is the great enemy of intimacy, love is its true friend.

  Henri Nouwen

  True Friend, Love Is, Enemy

  Henri Nouwen (2013). “Lifesigns: Intimacy, Fecundity, and Ecstasy in Christian Perspective”, p.23, Image

• God, help me to see others not as enemies or as ungodly but rather as thirsty people. And give me the courage and compassion to offer your Living Water, which alone quenches deep thirst.

  Henri Nouwen

  Compassion, Giving, Water

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin