where we felt most at home,
we quickly see that it was where
our hosts gave us the precious freedom
to come and go on our own terms
and did not claim us for their own needs.
Only in a free space can re-creation take place
and new life begin.
Henri Nouwen
Source: I cannot locate the book where this was first published but the themes of hospitality and freedom are in so many of Nouwen’s writings. I would be grateful if someone could provide the reference for this wonderful statement.
Dr. Geoff Pound
Image: “Only in a free space can re-creation take place and new life begin.”
Related:
Henri Nouwen: The Wounded Healer, Stories for Speakers and Writers
Staying Alive when No One is Waiting, Stories for Speakers and Writers