Monday, April 10, 2023

Nouwen Meditation: Distinguish Your Pain from the Pain of Others

Now & Then Podcast

As an Easter treat, we are featuring Henri Nouwen himself in this very special episode of Henri Nouwen, Now & Then. Recorded almost 40 years ago, Henri's message is timely, meaningful, and challenging as he passionately reminds us of who we belong to and why we are sent into the world to serve.

DAILY MEDITATION | APRIL 10, 2023
Distinguish Your Pain from the Pain of Others
There is a real pain in your heart, a pain that truly belongs to you. You know now that you cannot avoid, ignore, or repress it. It is this pain that reveals to you how you are called to live in solidarity with the broken human race.

You must distinguish carefully, however, between your pain and the pains that have attached themselves to it but are not truly yours. When you feel rejected, when you think of yourself as a failure and a misfit, you must be careful not to let these feelings and thoughts pierce your heart. You are not a failure or a misfit. Therefore, you have to disown these pains as false. They can paralyze you and prevent you from loving the way you are called to love.

It is a struggle to keep distinguishing the real pain from the false pains. But as you are faithful to that struggle, you will see more and more clearly your unique call to love. As you see that call, you will be more and more able to claim your real pain as your unique way to glory.
"Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you."

PROVERBS 2:11
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