Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life

I have a friend with multiple advanced and honorary degrees. His book collection is literally a full wall top to bottom, side to side in his house. He has only once recommended a book enough to buy multiple copies and give them away to friends This was the book. That was 15 years ago. I dare say it's even more relevant now! One of my lifetime top ten most influential books.

This was my textbook during my junior year "service" class at Notre Dame. The co-author, Father Don (McNeill) was my instructor. The course was great, but I had forgotten about the book. More than a decade later, as I re-engaged myself with social justice and welfare, and international orphanage work, I re-discovered this book while reading through all of Henri Nouwen's books. I found this book incredibly insightful for a more matured person in search for purposeful social action in the world.Key points I take away from this book - 1) We are overwhelmed by the world's problems and crisis if we do not have a center in our hearts and a community to which we belong; 2) We allow ourselves to be dominated by "clock" time, rather than trusting in the eternal; 3) If we think the world depended on our wits and efforts to "save", we are more doomed than those we are trying to serve; 4) Moving from seeking power (in social action) to seeking community; 5) Find how goodness (Christ) is already working even in places of despair. The last point has guided my work and restored my hope as I sat in desolate orphanages overseas -- and it is true! There are so many more insights, and every time I re-read it, I get something more from it. I've made a habit to take the book with me whenever I am off to a distant land working on child welfare issues.The reader will undoubtedly get her own take from it. I see this book as this deep reflecting pool. As a person grows in social action, a person may come to see and learn different things from this book. It's a companion book to be read at different stages of life.For those who may consider the book a little too "conceptual" and feel they need more "practical" guidance, I'd recommendWhen Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself by Brian Fikkert, Steve Corbett and Danny Campbell (Feb 1, 2010)

The not too well known poet Yosano Akiko wrote, "This one thing will I ask you: Are you with the people or apart from them? Depending on your answer, you and I will be forever divided between heaven and earth." This is the heart of Compassion. Nouwen and his co-authors argue that it is only genuine compassion, the ability to go outside of one's self in love for the other, that we find the meaning of God's love in Christ. It speaks directly to the heart of the Gospel, an incarnate faith in a life of compassion. Christ is known in "the least of these," in the person who is next to you now, on the bus, in the office, at your home. This is one of the books that I would really like to recommend to any Christian, regardless of their interests in theology or spirituality.Centered around the self-emptying, kenotic love of God in Christ, the book reminds us that Christianity is not a dogma, or a rule, or some system, but rather a Person. The authors use St. Paul's letter to the Philippians, 2:6-11, as the scriptural touchstone of the book. "In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus..." Dogmas and theologies are footnotes, Nouwen suggests, to the reality of the crucified and risen Christ as experienced by the disciples and his followers. They are essential, but they are not the "thing" in itself. To come to know the meaning of our lives, our creation, we must enter into the love of God directly through compassion.Anyone in the field of social services would benefit from this book immensely. Sometimes we loose sight of the value and meaning of our lives. This book is an antidote.This insightful work is divided into three parts. 1) The Compassionate God- examining the nature and mission of Christ and what he tells us about the Father. 2) The Compassionate Life- the roles and meaning behind community, displacement and togetherness. 3) The Compassionate Way- Patience, Prayer and Action.Each chapter stands alone and can be profitably used in group studies or for personal reflection.One of my favorite books! I wish I could give it to you! Enjoy!

Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian LifeInitial Question:How does Nouwen's gentle tone connect to the strong language of compassion-infused discipleship?---Nouwen (& et. al)'s Compassion will be a book I return to to fuel my soul in times of doubt or cloudy direction. I've highlighted and underlined and highlighted again so many of the simple, eloquently phrased sentences, that I might need to start committing the book to memory.The most profound result from the book is how Nouwen's pastoral tone guides the reader toward seeing the necessity of Jesus' call to the compassionate life as a disciple.My largest "take away?" --Compassion is the direct opposite of competition. Compassion cultivates love and a loss of self; competition is the preservation of self (or the self's tribe) through the weaponry of anger, slander, etc. In order to cultivate a life (and people) of compassion, we're going to have to face our inner (and cultural) tendencies toward competition.

If you measure a book by it’s impact on your life, then this is one of the best books on the Christian life I’ve ever read.Diving into the crux of one of the most-used and yet least-well defined virtues, Nouwen and his co-authors map out in intuitive detail the life in God. Components of it such as obedience, voluntary displacement, the dangers of the self and competition and what compassion really means are discussed here. Do yourself a favor and read it...yesterday!!

I think this should be read by all Christians. It is a book that can change your outlook on life whether you are a Christian or not.

I will read anything by Nouwen - here he collaborates with two others. Beautifully written, as always. Not an easy read, but an essential one.

Great book on compassion and why we should have it

Serioulsy-interesting discussion.

This book can help you on you're spiritual journey and embrace the author