May 2016 The Road to Daybreak A Spiritual Journey by Henri J M Nouwen

(Continue from) The Poverty of the Rich   This morning Peter and I flew to New York City to visit Murray McDonnell. I had never met Murray, but during my time in France, Murray and Peter had come to know each other and had developed a good friendship. Murray is a New York banker who personally knows countless people I have only heard about on TV or read about in the newspapers. He has read many of my books and feels that his world needs the word of God as much as my world does. It was a very humbling experience to hear a man who knows "the best and the brightest" say, "Give us a word from God, speak to us about Jesus ... do not stay away from the rich, who are so poor." Jesus loves the poor - but poverty takes many forms. How easily I forget that fact, leaving the powerful, the famous, and the successful without the spiritual food they crave. But to offer that food, I have to be very poor myself - not curious, not ambitious, not pretentious, not proud. It is so easy to be swept off one's own feet by the glitter of the world, seduced by its apparent splendor. And yet the only place I can really be is the place of poverty, the place where there is lonelinesss, anger, confusion, depression, and pain. I have to go there in the name of Jesus, staying close to his name and offering his love. O Lord, help me not to be distracted by power and wealth; help me not to be impressed by knowing the stars and heroes of this world. Open my eyes to the suffering heart of your people, whoever they are, and give me the word that can bring healing and consolation. Amen.

- To Be Continued - © Copyright Shalom 2016. All rights reserved.