“Nobody escapes being wounded. We all are wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not “How can we hide our wounds?” so we don’t have to be embarrassed, but “How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?” When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.
Jesus is God’s wounded healer: through his wounds we are healed. Jesus’ suffering and death brought joy and life. His humiliation brought glory; his rejection brought a community of love. As followers of Jesus we can also allow our wounds to bring healing to others.
“ -By Henri Nouwen : Please sign up for these meditations by clicking on this link for the Henri Nouwen Society.
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A Reader’s Review of the Wounded Healer
Confronting the ‘Essentials’ of Ministry
As a young person seeking meaning in a difficult world, I have found Nouwen’s work (every book I’ve read of his, actually) to clearly confront the ills of society, incorporating them into authentic Christian discipleship. Every priest, minister, layperson or questioning individual should pick up this brief – yet poignant – account of what it is to relate to others in the modern world. Nouwen consistently cultivates the meaning of authentic relationships one must have between him/herself, God, and those met in life. This is a must-read.