Monday, May 10, 2010

Excerpt from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey

Holding the Cup

We all must hold the cups of our lives. As we grow older and become more fully aware of the many sorrows of life - personal failures, family conflicts, disappointments in work and social life, and the many pains surrounding us on the national and international scene - everything within and around us conspires to make us ignore, avoid, suppress, or simply deny these sorrows. "Look at the sunny side of life and make the best of it," we say to ourselves and hear others say to us. But when we want to drink the cups of our lives, we need first to hold them, to fully acknowledge what we are living, trusting that by not avoiding but befriending our sorrows we will discover the true joy we are looking for right in the midst of our sorrows.


These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey. Www.HenriNouwen.org

1 comment:

kathkell said...

Sorrows AND joy, both are real.

I am so thankful for the upcoming residency. I have held my sorrow for so long. It will still be there but I must set it down for awhile.