by Brad Ward

Our Lenten devotional this season provided an introduction to the work of a modern-day mystic. Henri Nouwen, in his own unique style, was able to show us how Christ can work in our lives to heal wounds and mend souls. What is it that makes his work so popular?

I believe he had two ‘secrets’ to writing. First, he kept things simple. His language doesn’t billow with frothy phrases or verbal gymnastics (not that there’s anything wrong with creativity!). With this simplicity came a stunning humility. He left a notable career of teaching at universities like Harvard and Yale to spend his remaining years living and working with the mentally handicapped. In Life of the Beloved he declared his practice of referring to his middle initials, J.M., as “Just Me”.

This humility points to his other ‘secret’: his willingness to write honestly about himself. I think his third-favorite word, after God and Jesus, was ‘I’. Not content with simply steering people down the right path, he wrote about his own experiences on that path, revealing his own fragility and brokenness.

In The Return of the Prodigal Son he explains how he “gradually entered into very dark interior places and began to experience immense inner anguish.” How many writers, spiritual or otherwise, are as honest in books written for strangers?

For the month of April you’ll find Bethany’s collection of Nouwen’s books assembled next to the new arrivals. We invite you to journey beyond Lent with Henri to experience his disarming simplicity and searing honesty, to travel into the life of the beloved.