Nouwen: In the Name of Jesus

It is entirely possible that I've spent more time in my bed in the last two days than I have in the last two weeks combined. I hate being sick. Hate, hate, hate it. But, on the bright side, the last 48 hours of feeling under the weather has allowed for time to read some good things and catch up on episodes of New Girl. Which, by the way, is hilarious.

Sometimes this blog expresses my own thoughts and sometimes not. One super short but quality read I just devoured is a compilation of reflections on Christian leadership and is called, "In the Name of Jesus" by one of my all-time favorites, Henri Nouwen. I will spare you of any of my Nicole-ish commentary and just provide some Nouwen nuggets that gave me cause for reflection. Enjoy!

If there is any focus that the Christian leader of the future will need, it is the discipline of dwelling in the presence of the One who keeps asking us, "Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?"... 

Are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word, and to taste fully God's infinite goodness?... 

Their leadership must be rooted in permanent, intimate relationship with the incarnate Word, Jesus, and they need to find there the source for their words, advice and guidance... 

Without this, future leaders will be little more than pseudo-sociologists, pseudo-psychologists, pseudo-sociologists, pseudo-social workers...