Henri Nouwen on Inclusivity and Compassion

Photo Credit: Henry Nouwen Society

In 1995 Henri Nouwen gave a talk at Noroten Presbyterian Church in Darrien, Connecticut. The topic was "The Truth about Inclusivity and Compassion."

Decades before the prevalent push towards these topics, Nouwen's focus was very unique, in that it flowed from a deeply spiritual place.

Nouwen began by admitting that he was an insecure, nervous and anxious person. "I'm such a nervous person," he said. "I like saying 'this is mine, and not yours'... I love God, but I struggle."

He mentioned that he found a solution to this struggle by stripping off of safety in anything, except God. He said that this was a life-long process that was often painful.

But as Nouwen began to shed the boundaries put up by his insecurities, he found that it was the people living on the margins - including the unhoused, the undocumented, the mentally distraught and people who didn't look, think, or believe like him who "brought me back to the center of God's heart."

In his talk, Nouwen grew excited as he made the point that "the incredible mystery is: God loves all people with the same unconditional love." 

By this time, Nouwen had been living for a decade at two different L'Arche communities, for nine months in France, and then for nine years in Canada.

It was the L'Arche experiences that caused Nouwen to learn and grow in his spiritual journey. "Jesus came to reveal to us what it means to be safe in God's embrace." 

This embrace, observed Nouwen, causes great freedom. "We don't know what it's like to live without judging, evaluating or condemning... But Jesus is saying 'Let your heart be as inclusive as mine.'"

This freedom allows us to hear God's voice "where you'd least expect it. You'll be able to see the belovedness of yourself, and of others."

Simply put, Nouwen explained that recognizing this belovedness helps us to claim our true identity as a child of God. 

And it leads to an ability to be inclusive as we claim our true identity.

Nouwen concluded this portion of his talk by saying: "Every human being is searching for a home."

Like Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis who spoke two decades before him, Nouwen touched upon the idea of a beloved community, where everyone recognizes the intrinsic worth of themselves and of everyone else.

Nowadays, there are many who are calling for healing of the divisions that cross political, religious, and societal lines.

It seems like every nation on the face of the earth is going through a time of deep hurt. 

Many critics are quick to point to the fault lines that separate us. 

Few remind us of our common humanity. 

Fewer still are honest enough to admit to their own insecurity, anxiety or nervousness. 

But a few prophetic voices point to our spirits and to the solution to bridging the social canyons that usually blind us to each other and the path ahead.

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To watch the 27-minute video of Henri Nouwen's talk, titled "The Truth about Inclusivity and Compassion, click here.

Nouwen died about a year after giving this presentation.

For a shorter version of the above video, focused on "Being the Beloved," click here.

To learn more about Henri Nouwen and the L'Arche community, click here.

To learn more about Henri Nouwen Society, click here.