I love, am encouraged and challenged by Henri Nouwen's You Are the Beloved - a beautiful book for daily meditations for spiritual living.
If you're not familiar with dear Henri, (from back jacket of this book) he was a Dutch-born Catholic priest, professor, and pastor, who gained international renown as the author of over thirty books on the spiritual life, including such classics as The Wounded Healer, The Inner Voice of Love, and The Return of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen's books have been translated into more than thirty languages and have sold upward of seven million copies worldwide, resonating with people across the religious, spiritual, cultural, and political spectrum. Since his death in 1996, ever-increasing numbers of readers, writers, teachers, and seekers have been guided by his beautiful, challenging and life-changing insights on the spiritual life.
LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH
God, is Spirit and the Source of all love. Our spiritual journey calls us to seek and find this living God of love in prayer, worship, spiritual reading, spiritual mentoring, compassionate service to the poor, and good friends. Let us claim the truth that we are loved and open our hearts to receive God's overflowing love poured out for us. And living fully each day let us share that love in all our wonderful and difficult relationships, responsibilities, and passages.
The seeds of death (and I lost my beloved Father this past August) are at work in us, but love is stronger than death. Your death and mine are our final passage, our exodus to the full realization of our identity as God's beloved children and to full communion with the God of Love. Jesus walked the path ahead of us and invites us to choose the same path during our lifetime. He calls to us, "Follow me." He assures us, "Do not be afraid." This is our faith.