Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied. In the spiritual life, discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn't planned or counted on.
Life Spiritual Discipline

About This Quote

About Henri Nouwen

Henri Nouwen was a 20th-century Dutch catholic priest and writer. Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian. His interests were rooted primarily in psychology, pastoral ministry, spirituality, social justice and community. Read more on Wikipedia →

Themes

  • Life — Reflections on the meaning, challenges, and beauty of life

More quotes by Henri Nouwen

“You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.' It certainly is not easy to hear that voice in a world filled with voices that shout: 'You are no good, you are ugly; you are worthless; you are despicab...”
— Henri Nouwen
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“In solitude we discover that community is not a common ideology, but a response to a common call.”
— Henri Nouwen
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“The church itself is a spiritual director. It tries to connect your story with God's story. Just to be a true part of this community means you are being directed, you are being guided, you are bein...”
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“Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must ...”
— Henri Nouwen
Life Positive Smile

“If fear is the great enemy of intimacy, love is its true friend.”
— Henri Nouwen
Fear Great True Friend

“The journey from teaching about love to allowing myself to be loved proved much longer than I realised.”
— Henri Nouwen
Journey Myself Loved
View all quotes by Henri Nouwen →

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