Devotions from Henri Nouwen’s book, The Inner Voice of Love

Henri talks about the fear of death and dying alone. He wanted to have the inner freedom to let go and trust that he would die well. He felt like the passage from time into eternity, from the transient beauty of this world to the lasting beauty of the next, was to be made now. And that he didn’t have to make it alone. God sends us people to be close to us and to help us make the lonely passage in the knowledge that we are surrounded by a safe love. The more we can trust in the love of those God has sent to us, the more we will be able to lose our life and so gain it. We must not cling to success, affection, future plans, satisfying work, emotional support and even spiritual progress as essential for survival. Only as we let go of them can we discover true freedom our heart most desires. That is dying, moving into the life beyond life.  We must make the passage in a sense before we die. With the love of those who are being sent to us, we can surrender our fears and let ourselves be guided into the new land forever with Him!