“The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.” One of the things that I love most about offering spiritual direction and companioning is that there is so much more room for responding to the movements of Spirit and less “protocol” for staying removed from people’s pain.
Tag: henri nouwen
Going the final mile and the danger of self-direction
Nothing is more harmful than self-direction, nothing more fatal… I never allowed myself to follow my thought without asking advice” (Instructions of Dorotheus of Gaza)
How poignant this is for our times. How often it is that we seek to find out own way, make our own decisions… “my spiritual journey is my own personal thing and I keep it to myself mostly.” My friends, as good as this sounds, it is not the way to move forward in the spiritual life. We must not separate ourselves from the saints, the fathers and the mothers, that have come before us, whatever religion they may be. They will always tell us of the need for a director, a spiritual companion, a confessor, a community.
Growing the trust factor
Yesterday, I began my recent writing on small groups and transformational community with the foundational element of the Trust Factor. Much of what I am learning currently…… Read more “Growing the trust factor”
Reaching Out – From Hostility to Hospitality Part 2
As we look at Becoming Community… journeying in hospitality and belonging, I move to the next chapter (first entry here.) of Henri Nouwen’s book, Reaching Out: the…… Read more “Reaching Out – From Hostility to Hospitality Part 2”
Reaching Out – From Hostility to Hospitality Part 1
Looking for reading to supplement our Sunday night gathering’s study on Becoming Community… journeying in hospitality and belonging (intro entry here), I dusted off Henri Nouwen’s book,…… Read more “Reaching Out – From Hostility to Hospitality Part 1”
Nathan Bettger | Oshkosh, WI 