Henri J. M. Nouwen was a Catholic priest who taught at several theological institutes and universities in his home country of the Netherlands and in the United States. He died in 1996. This paperback is Nouwen's "secret journal" which was written from December 1987 to June 1988, a period which he described as a dark night of the soul:
"Everything came crashing down — my self-esteem, my energy to live and work, my sense of being loved, my hope for healing, my trust in God. . . . everything. Here I was, a writer about the spiritual life, known as someone who loves God and gives hope to people, flat on the ground and in total darkness."
The spiritual topics explored in these journal pieces challenge us to see the struggle we must face while serving others. The path is never easy, and the light does not always make everything clear. We move in a mystery though our pain, doubt, and self-disgust. Those who have experienced these emotions will appreciate the honesty of Nouwen's essays as he ponders powerlessness, loneliness, sorrow, trusting God's call, taking up your cross, and allowing yourself to be fully received. He concludes this collection of "spiritual imperatives" with this thought:
"I have also learned to catch the darkness early, not to allow sadness to grow into depression or let a sense of being rejected develop into a feeling of abandonment. . . . What once seemed such a curse has become a blessing. All the agony that threatened to destroy my life now seems like the fertile ground for greater trust, stronger hope, and deeper love."
