Nouwen-ian Friendship
This quote is the basis for my ideas on friendship. I call this form of friendship Nouwen-ian Friendship. It can be broken down into a simple principle. Friends endure one another. I'd also like to congratulate Paul Chung on his harassment for this blog to be open to him. And Richard for his slight harassment. Is there a difference you ask?...Yes!! its 'slight'. You both have succeeded. Hopefully I will update this neglected blog more than i have in the past.
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
-Henri Nouwen
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
-Henri Nouwen
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