Return of the Prodigal Son

Return of the Prodigal Son

5 stars (Glory!) - I found this book to be one of the best Christian books I have ever read, bar none. I facilitate the Adult Bible Class at my church. I read it in April or May and then we studied it in the class in June and July. I am still reflecting on it after all this time! I cannot describe what I liked about the book. I can only say that Nouwen writes to me where I am. So much of what he said seemed to be written just for me. 5 stars (Mysticism through Art appreciation) - If nothing else, Henri Nouwen takes the reader on a methodology of how to appreciate a painting, in this case Rembrandt's specifically. He takes us on an observation tour which transcends into our very hearts as we realize that there's much more to the painted story than the son; there's the father; the other brother; and other people watching. At some point in time we are all one or a combination of the characters diplayed. Nouwen brushes his words as Rembrandt brushed his oils. A wonderful experience, and a book to keep and reread. 4 stars ("You are called to become the father") - Nouwen skillfully navigates Rembrandt's masterwork and Christ's (arguably) most famous parable. In both he finds "the heart of the gospel": God's unconditional love for the world. The navigation comprises three stages: the story of the prodigal son, the story of the elder brother and finally the challenge to find yourself as the father/mother at the center of the painting. Each stage has its own crises, breakthroughs and ultimate redemption - with the possible exception of the elder brother whose decision to enter the father's love is left ambivalent. Towards the end Nouwen achieves his dynamic spiritual insights, sounding almost Buddhist when he announces, "There is a dreadful emptiness in spiritual fatherhood ... But that same dreadful emptiness is also the place of true freedom." We are ultimately left with a portrait of impoverished fatherhood that is as wise as it is compelling. "Rembrand...
Image :: Religion & Discipleship :: Nouwen :: Henri J M :: Subjects & Themes - Religious :: Spiritual life :: Return of the prodigal son :: Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn :: Return of the Prodigal Son