The Selfless Way Of Christ

For the many who find Nouwen’s writing stirs up the desire to know Jesus more, this little book will not disappoint. It is short, large type face (bit expensive for its size) and a book that can be read in one sitting or slowly mulled over: easy to read, a lifetime to live. The book is a challenge to the upwardly mobile aspirations of the culture around us which is characterised by competition and climbing the ladder of success. This challenge to our basic desires for importance and worldly significance is done in a way that does not threaten but draws one into wanting to be transformed and believing one will find true fulfilment in the downward way exemplified by Christ. The theme is explored through looking at the temptations to be relevant, spectacular and powerful; and the framework given to develop a Christ-like way are the disciplines of church, Bible reading and prayer. He sees the discipline of the church as the discipline by which we represent the living Christ in space and time and liturgy as a celebration and manifestation of that. Bible reading and meditation is the way of letting the Word become flesh in us. And prayer is the discipline by which we create the inner space to hear the heartbeat of God. Characteristically he concludes ‘We will never be without struggle. But when we persevere we will come to realize in our innermost being that through the downward road of Christ we will enter with him into his glory.’