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Restless Soul: Meditations from the Road
These engaging selections gathered from Henri Nouwen's travel writings offer new insights into the restless soul of a deeply spiritual man. Whether Nouwen was describing the grim surroundings of post-Soviet Ukraine, mingling with senators in Washington, or meeting cocaine users in a South American prison, each situation tells a revealing story. Editor Michael Ford creates a journey from actual places Nouwen visited from the Ukraine to Bolivia via Europe, Canada, and the United States that depicts Nouwen's world as one of striking contrasts--one minute rubbing shoulders with the affluent, the next walking through lands of poverty. At each destination, we discover a man whose endless search for intimacy and beauty resonates deeply with our own.
- GenresSpirituality
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2008
71 people want to read
About the author
Henri J.M. Nouwen
452 books2,142 followersHenri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, theologian, psychologist, professor, and spiritual writer whose work profoundly shaped contemporary Christian spirituality. Born in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, in 1932, Nouwen pursued religious studies and was ordained a priest in 1957. His intellectual curiosity led him to study psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen and later at the Menninger Clinic in Kansas, where he explored the connection between faith and mental health. Throughout his life, Nouwen remained committed to integrating pastoral care, psychology, and spiritual theology in a way that addressed the emotional and existential needs of believers.
Nouwen held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He authored over three dozen books and hundreds of articles, with notable works such as The Wounded Healer, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Life of the Beloved, and The Inner Voice of Love. His writing, often rooted in personal vulnerability and spiritual struggle, resonated with readers across denominations. Nouwen openly explored themes of loneliness, identity, intimacy, and the human desire for love and belonging, making his voice especially relatable and influential.
Though he was a gifted academic and popular speaker, Nouwen found his deepest calling later in life through his involvement with L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After a transformative stay at the original L’Arche community in France, Nouwen accepted an invitation to become the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. There he developed a close bond with Adam Arnett, a core member with severe disabilities, which inspired the book Adam: God’s Beloved. At Daybreak, Nouwen discovered a deep spiritual home and a community that helped him embrace his humanity in profound ways.
Throughout his life, Nouwen wrestled with issues of identity, including his sexuality and his longing for connection, though he remained faithful to his vows. His openness about depression and inner conflict gave depth to his pastoral message, and his ability to turn personal struggle into shared spiritual insight made him one of the most beloved spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen died in 1996 of a sudden heart attack, but his legacy endures through his writings, the Henri Nouwen Society, and the continued global reach of his message of belovedness, vulnerability, and compassionate community. His books remain bestsellers, widely read in seminaries, churches, and among individuals seeking a more intimate walk with God.
Nouwen held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He authored over three dozen books and hundreds of articles, with notable works such as The Wounded Healer, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Life of the Beloved, and The Inner Voice of Love. His writing, often rooted in personal vulnerability and spiritual struggle, resonated with readers across denominations. Nouwen openly explored themes of loneliness, identity, intimacy, and the human desire for love and belonging, making his voice especially relatable and influential.
Though he was a gifted academic and popular speaker, Nouwen found his deepest calling later in life through his involvement with L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After a transformative stay at the original L’Arche community in France, Nouwen accepted an invitation to become the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. There he developed a close bond with Adam Arnett, a core member with severe disabilities, which inspired the book Adam: God’s Beloved. At Daybreak, Nouwen discovered a deep spiritual home and a community that helped him embrace his humanity in profound ways.
Throughout his life, Nouwen wrestled with issues of identity, including his sexuality and his longing for connection, though he remained faithful to his vows. His openness about depression and inner conflict gave depth to his pastoral message, and his ability to turn personal struggle into shared spiritual insight made him one of the most beloved spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen died in 1996 of a sudden heart attack, but his legacy endures through his writings, the Henri Nouwen Society, and the continued global reach of his message of belovedness, vulnerability, and compassionate community. His books remain bestsellers, widely read in seminaries, churches, and among individuals seeking a more intimate walk with God.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 8, 2009
I just got this for Christmas. The few pages I've started are alluring! I'm looking forward to it!
March 3, 2020
Nice little book with very short stories of Henri J.M. Nouwen's travels and observations. Some humorous, others thought provoking.
June 24, 2013
Something's wrong with this page. I want to star this little book as excelent on the fifth star. Also, I wanted to comment, but the comment button would bring me to this page. I had to click on edit review to get here.
Forgetting about that stuff, this book is perfect for meditation. The selections are read in less that a second!!!!! But the Lectio Divina can last as long as you want.
Once, when Henri Nouwen went to a carnival he saw clowns, bands, floats, and an endless variety of masks. Everyone was working very hard at being happy. Upon going home, the door was opened "I was greeted with an open face, a big smile, and a free laugh. I suddenly realized that no mask can make people really happy. Happiness must come from within."
Forgetting about that stuff, this book is perfect for meditation. The selections are read in less that a second!!!!! But the Lectio Divina can last as long as you want.
Once, when Henri Nouwen went to a carnival he saw clowns, bands, floats, and an endless variety of masks. Everyone was working very hard at being happy. Upon going home, the door was opened "I was greeted with an open face, a big smile, and a free laugh. I suddenly realized that no mask can make people really happy. Happiness must come from within."
January 18, 2024
A collection of journal excerpts from travel across the globe, these snippets range from quiet gratitude to energetic resolve as Nouwen reflects on the humanity he finds in every circumstance. Whether meeting with unimagined wealth or abject poverty, exploring historical holy sites or mediating on works of art, Nouwen always manages to find the humanity in every corner and approaches it with humility. Every experience becomes a prayerful on when passed through his mind. Somehow profound though the experiences are sometimes mundane.
October 22, 2012
It wasn't what I thought it was going to be. More meditations on famous artwork than travel journal or book of wisdom. Some good stories though.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews