Spirit of Wisdom Hermitage

08/25/2026

Useless Time

From: Spiritual Formation:
Following the Movements of the Spirit

The world says, “If you are not making good use of your time, you are useless.”

Jesus says, “Come spend some useless time with me.”

If we think about prayer in terms of its usefulness to us – what prayer will do for us, what spiritual benefits we will gain, what insights we will gain, what divine presence we may feel – God cannot easily speak to us.

But if we can detach ourselves from the idea of the usefulness of prayer and the results of prayer, we become free to “waste” a precious hour with God in prayer.

Gradually, we may find, our “useless” time will transform us, and everything around us will be different.

Reflection Question:
How will you make space to “waste” time with God today?

Henri Nouwen

08/24/2026

CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT

From: The Return of the Prodigal Son:
A Story of Homecoming

… As children of the darkness that rules through fear, self-interest, greed, and power, our great motivators are survival and self-preservation.

But as children of the light, who know that perfect love casts out all fear, it becomes possible to give away all that we have for others.

Reflection Question:
What have you resisted giving away?

Henri Nouwen

08/23/2026

08/23/2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/gx6LrNwBuSo?feature=shared

Mass celebrated in the Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church on August 23,...

08/23/2026

OUR FELLOW TRAVELLER

From: Following Jesus:
Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety

When we walk with Jesus we can know that we have a fellow traveller, someone-with-us.

Jesus is God-with-us, the one we can trust with our whole life, the one who shows us the way.

Reflection Question:
How will you remember and embrace Jesus as your fellow traveller today?

Henri Nouwen

08/22/2026

DEEP FRIENDSHIP

From: Life of the Beloved:
Spiritual Living in a Secular World

Deep friendship is a calling forth of each other's chosenness and a mutual affirmation of being precious in God's eyes.

Your life and my life are, each of them, one of a kind.

No one has lived your life or my life before, and no one will ever live them again.

Our lives are unique stones in the mosaic of human existence - priceless and irreplaceable.

Reflection Question:
Which friend might need your affirmation of their belovedness today?

Henri Nouwen

08/21/2026

CHOSEN AND BLESSED

From: Finding My Way Home:
Pathways to Life and the Spirit

In this world when you are chosen, you know that somebody else is not chosen.

When you are the best, you know that somebody is not the best.

When you win and receive a prize, you know there is somebody who lost.

But this is not so in the heart of God.

If you are chosen in the heart of God, you have eyes to see the chosenness of others.

If the Love of God blesses you, you have eyes to see the blessedness of others.

Reflection Question:
How will it change the way you look at people around you when you remember that they have also been chosen and loved by God?

Henri Nouwen

08/20/2026

CALLED BACK TO THAT FIRST LOVE

From: The Road to Peace:
Writings on Peace and Justice

I am a limited, partial, broken reflection of a love that is unlimited, impartial, whole.

If I say, “I love you,” then what I am really saying is that we are communicating to each other in a broken and limited way a love that has no limit, that is not broken.

You keep calling me back to that first divine love.

I call you back to it.

That is what marriage is about.

That is what friendship is about.

That is what community is about.

In each case, we are calling each other back to that first love.

We are saying to each other: “We are broken people.

But we are embraced by one who says to us: “Do not be afraid, I have loved you first.

And that is where you are secure.”

Reflection Question:
What encouragement will you take from the reminder to be called back to that first divine love?

Henri Nouwen

08/19/2026

YOU ALONE, O LORD

From: A Cry for Mercy:
Prayers from the Genesee

Am I destined to excite others to reach the promised land while remaining unable to enter there myself?

Sometimes I feel imprisoned by my own insights and “spiritual competence.”

You alone, Lord, can reach out to me and save me.

You alone.

I can only keep trying to be faithful, even though I feel faithless most of the time.

What else can I do but keep praying to you, even when I feel dark; to keep writing about you, even when I feel numb; to keep speaking in your name, even when I feel alone.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Have mercy on me, a sinner.

Amen.

Reflection Question:
How will you continue with spiritual practice despite feeling faithless?

Henri Nouwen

08/18/2026

LETTING GO

From: With Open Hands

Detachment is often understood as letting loose of what is attractive.

But it sometimes also requires letting go of what is repulsive.

You can indeed become attached to dark forces such as resentment and hatred.

As long as you seek retaliation, you cling to your own past.

Sometimes it seems as though you might lose yourself along with your revenge and hate – so you stand there with balled-up fists, closed to the other who wants to heal.

Reflection Question:
Where are you standing with balled-up fists and how will you take the first step to open your hands?

Henri Nouwen