Wednesday, July 28, 2010

the energy of loneliness

"But I believe that loneliness is something essential to human nature; it can only be covered over, it can never actually go away. Loneliness is part of being human, because there is nothing in existence that can completely fulfill the needs of the human heart...Loneliness is the fundamental force that urges mystics to a deeper union with God. For such people, loneliness has become intolerable but, instead of slipping into apathy or anger, they use the energy of loneliness to seek God. It pushes them towards the absolute."

- Jean Vanier, Becoming Human

2 comments:

Amy Rebekah said...

have you read many of his writings? he seems to have a lot of insight.

allcedars said...

I've read "Be Not Afraid" by Vanier and I am currently reading "Becoming Human." It's really good. My brother and sister-in-law bought me "Seeing Beyond Depression" by him, but it's on its way to Alaska right now. :) Vanier is really good. You can get a lot of his books on betterworld.com at a good price! I bought Becoming Human for like $5. :)

in each sister and brother

If God comes down to earth through [the] Son made flesh, then we ascend toward heaven through Jesus present in each sister and brother for ...