Wil Hernandez is a retreat leader, counselor, and spiritual director in private practice. In this enlightening paperback, he explores the central place of spiritual polarities in Henri Nouwen's life and thought. The book is divided into three sections:
• Living with Inward Polarities (Psychological tensions)
• Living with Outward Polarities (Ministerial tensions)
• Living with Upward Polarities (Theological tensions)
In the manner of Tibetan Buddhists, Nouwen, a Catholic priest, did not run from these considerable tensions but sought to embrace and befriend them. Hernandez shows how solitude enabled this teacher and writer a chance to confront his false self and strengthen his authentic self. He also delves into Nouwen's ministry as a process of self-giving and thoughts about the art of being "a wounded healer."
One of Nouwen's teachings that is most relevant to our times is his emphasis on ministry as contemplation and action, mystical and prophetic, compassionate and confrontational. Here dualism is set aside for opposites that enhance and enrich one another.
Hernandez closes with Nouwen's theological tensions and does a fine job assessing this faithful servant of God's writings on befriending death. Instead of the "either/or" mode of thinking, he adapted a "both/and" approach which is more inclusive and brings everything together in harmony.
