Life of the Beloved

One of the books I have read recently is Henri Nouwen’s Life of the Beloved. Nouwen wrote the book to try to explain the spiritual life to an unbelieving friend, but interestingly enough, it became a source of great encouragement to searching believers. He encourages us to stop listening to the loud, persistent voices of the world, and our enemy in it, that tell us we are worthless, ugly and nobody and begin to listen to the soft, gentle voice that calls us the Beloved. We must “dare to reclaim the truth that we are God’s chosen ones, even when our world does not choose us.”

In his chapter on being chosen, Nouwen asks the question, “How do we get in touch with our chosenness when we are surrounded by rejections?” He admits this involves a spiritual struggle and offers a few guidelines.

“First of all, you have to keep unmasking the world about you for what it is: manipulative, controlling, power-hungry, and in the long run, destructive. The world tells you many lies about who you are, and you simply have to be realistic enough to remind yourself of this…Second, you have to keep looking for people and places where your truth is spoken and where you are reminded of your deepest identity as the chosen one…Third, you have to celebrate your chosenness constantly. This means saying ‘thank you’ to God for having chosen you, and ‘thank you’ to all who remind you of your chosenness. Gratitude is the most fruitful way of deepening your consciousness that you are not an ‘accident,’ but a divine choice.”

In addition to his chapter on being chosen, he has chapters on being blessed, broken and given. This book has not only reminded me of my own position in Christ as the Beloved, but has encouraged me to look for opportunities to share this truth with others.

Enjoy today as you think of your position as the Beloved.