Missionary Renegade: The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: " Community Supported by Solitude " for Monday, 22 January 2018

Monday, January 22, 2018

The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: " Community Supported by Solitude " for Monday, 22 January 2018

The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "
Community Supported by Solitude" for Monday, 22 January 2018

Daily Meditation: Community Supported by Solitude

Henri Nouwen Society

to me
9 hours ago

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DAILY MEDITATION

Community Supported by Solitude

January 22

Photo courtesy of SDGimagery.com

Solitude greeting solitude, that's what community is all about. Community is not the place where we are no longer alone but the place where we respect, protect, and reverently greet one another's aloneness. When we allow our aloneness to lead us into solitude, our solitude will enable us to rejoice in the solitude of others. Our solitude roots us in our own hearts. Instead of making us yearn for company that will offer us immediate satisfaction, solitude makes us claim our center and empowers us to call others to claim theirs. Our various solitudes are like strong, straight pillars that hold up the roof of our communal house. Thus, solitude always strengthens community.

For further reflection...

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no-one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40: 28-29)

Your response...

Do you desire more or less of the solitude Henri describes?

Commenton this meditation.

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Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.

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