52 Books in 52 Weeks, it's called. The challenge is simple: read a book every week for a year.
56. In the name of Jesus: reflections on Christian leadership.
Nouwen didn’t find his calling and voice, really, until he retired from the world of influence and power to a L’Arche community for the mentally disabled in Toronto. This is a speech he gave on Christian leadership from out of that time, bookended by his reflections on bringing along Bill, one of his community members. Nouwen stresses resisting the temptations (outlined in Jesus’s temptation in the desert) to be spectacular, powerful, relevant, and instead serve in the humble ways Jesus serves. But he (probably rightly) speculates that the hearers of the original speech will remember Bill’s presence long after they forget Nouwen’s words. Can be read quickly; go ahead.
