Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying With Icons by Henri J.M. Nouwen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As an art lover and a person of faith, I enjoy this book. I was originally drawn to it for two reasons. One, it’s Nouwen - and his words are always words of love, instruction, heart and reassurance. Secondly, it was intriguing to me to find of book written by a Catholic about matters having to do with the Eastern Orthodox church. Nouwen does not fail on either score. It is, perhaps to me, not as enjoyable as “Life of the Beloved” or “Prodigal Son” but it is well worth putting at your place of prayer and taking a good deal of time with.
Along this vein (but different and easier), I would highly recommend Sister Wendy Becket’s books:
On Joy: http://www.amazon.com/Sister-Wendys-Medi…
On Peace: http://www.amazon.com/Sister-Wendys-Medi…
On Love: http://www.amazon.com/Sister-Wendys-Medi…
On Silence: http://www.amazon.com/Sister-Wendy-Becke…
View all my reviews
“We must lead them to Christ who will offer them fresh bread of forgiveness. Some who knock are tormented by the fear of death as they move toward the evening of life. We must provide them with the bread of faith in immortality, so that they may realize that this earthly life is merely an embryonic prelude to a new awakening.”
—
- Martin Luthor King Jr, Strength to Love
It occurred to me that today might be the day to share this quote that I’ve been holding onto. I clipped it with the intention to remind myself that I might want to buy this book and read more. What I liked about it, was the word-picture in my mind that this life, against the backdrop of eternity, is “an embryonic prelude.”
Update: Ironically enough, I learned from this LIFE photo gallery that this book was in MLK’s possession when he was shot.
“And this appeared like a bitter justice to Jonah
a great bitterness grew inside him
it hurt him deeply
And he prayed to the Lord, saying
Oh Lord, wasn’t this the exact word and vision
I had always delivered and known you by
when I was still in my own country?
this is exactly why
I wanted to leave your presence
for Tarshish, before you would call me
a second time
because I knew you as a gracious God
compassionate, long-suffering
and of great kindness
and would repent bitterness.”
a great bitterness grew inside him
it hurt him deeply
And he prayed to the Lord, saying
Oh Lord, wasn’t this the exact word and vision
I had always delivered and known you by
when I was still in my own country?
this is exactly why
I wanted to leave your presence
for Tarshish, before you would call me
a second time
because I knew you as a gracious God
compassionate, long-suffering
and of great kindness
and would repent bitterness.”
— Jonah 4:1-2 (“A Literary Bible: An Original Translation”)
I have always loved this passage for what it says about God’s character. I need a God who is gracious (and grace-bestowing), compassionate, long-suffering and terribly kind.
As before, there are two turns of phrase that I love in this text. And perhaps it helps to be accustomed to the “boring translations” in order to really like turns of phrases like these:
1:
“Before you would call me a second time”:
even though this is a faithful adult follower of God, it sounds like a kid to me. “Oh! I didn’t really hear that. Let me pretend like I didn’t and leave before I get called again…” I suppose I’m relieved that even prophets think as foolishly as I do. And struggle as I do. And need a heavenly parent to patiently explain things, like I do.
2:
“and would repent bitterness”:
a non-sinning God, choosing to change course. Changing responses to a people. Also, I think of bitterness as something that I experience. It happens to me. Yeah, you can talk all you want about choosing to be mad or choosing to be a victim - but don’t you experience it as “not a choice”? Perhaps there must come a point where we have had our fill of an experience and we reach the point of repentance - where we just set it down and choose a new path…
I have always loved this passage for what it says about God’s character. I need a God who is gracious (and grace-bestowing), compassionate, long-suffering and terribly kind.
As before, there are two turns of phrase that I love in this text. And perhaps it helps to be accustomed to the “boring translations” in order to really like turns of phrases like these:
1:
“Before you would call me a second time”:
even though this is a faithful adult follower of God, it sounds like a kid to me. “Oh! I didn’t really hear that. Let me pretend like I didn’t and leave before I get called again…” I suppose I’m relieved that even prophets think as foolishly as I do. And struggle as I do. And need a heavenly parent to patiently explain things, like I do.
2:
“and would repent bitterness”:
a non-sinning God, choosing to change course. Changing responses to a people. Also, I think of bitterness as something that I experience. It happens to me. Yeah, you can talk all you want about choosing to be mad or choosing to be a victim - but don’t you experience it as “not a choice”? Perhaps there must come a point where we have had our fill of an experience and we reach the point of repentance - where we just set it down and choose a new path…
“‘What have you done?’ he said. ‘A voice - your brother’s blood - cries to me from the earth. And so it be a curse: the soil is embittered to you. Your brother’s blood sticks in its throat.’”
— Genesis 4:10-12 (“A Literary Bible: An Original Translation”)
Fasinating word choices, again.
“Embittered”:
working against. Alienated.
“Your brother’s blood sticks in its throat”:
the choking horror of what’s been done.
Fasinating word choices, again.
“Embittered”:
working against. Alienated.
“Your brother’s blood sticks in its throat”:
the choking horror of what’s been done.
“… and Yahweh was moved by Abel and his holocaust. Yet by Cain and his holocaust he was unmoved. This disturbed Cain deeply, his face fell. ‘What disturbs you?’ said Yahweh to Cain. ‘Why wear a face so fallen? Look up; if you conceive good it is moving; if not good, sin is an open door, a demon crouching there. It will rise to you, though you be above it.’”
— Genesis 4:4-6 (“A Literary Bible: An Original Translation”)
Over the next couple of days, I want to curate a couple of quotes from a book that fascinated me. “A Literary Bible” attempts to convey weighted meaning and action, rather than a verbatim translation. Here are some of the quotes that caught my attention.
In the above Genesis quote I was struck by 2 things:
1:
I was shocked to see the word “holocaust” and learned that holocaust is the simply “a sacrifice consumed by fire.”
2:
The portion where sin awaits at the door has always been a fascinating (and useful) passage to me. This particular description strikes me as interesting. Especially because it spells out the nature of the equation: look for and live in God’s good. What is sinful is a snare and while you can be above it, you can also permit it to overpower and consume…
Over the next couple of days, I want to curate a couple of quotes from a book that fascinated me. “A Literary Bible” attempts to convey weighted meaning and action, rather than a verbatim translation. Here are some of the quotes that caught my attention.
In the above Genesis quote I was struck by 2 things:
1:
I was shocked to see the word “holocaust” and learned that holocaust is the simply “a sacrifice consumed by fire.”
2:
The portion where sin awaits at the door has always been a fascinating (and useful) passage to me. This particular description strikes me as interesting. Especially because it spells out the nature of the equation: look for and live in God’s good. What is sinful is a snare and while you can be above it, you can also permit it to overpower and consume…
“Love is the measure of all things Christian. The mind has its place, but it is with the heart that we love.”
— Henri Nouwen (“Behold the Beauty of the Lord”)
So awesome. So funny.
on “Being Wrong” and “Regret”
Two great and worthwhile thoughts on “Being Wrong” and “Regret.”
I watched them yesterday, thanks to the recommendations of Simple Dollar - and still found myself thinking of them today (always a good indicator that you’ve come across something worthwhile).
