I want to personally welcome you to this special site devoted to celebrating and promoting the life and work of one of my spiritual heroes: Henri Nouwen. People all over the world have been extraordinarily impactedby the life of this “imperfect” saint of God. I invite you to join me in the continuing exploration of Nouwen’s unique spirituality, a spirituality that points us to Jesus, who specializes in working through imperfect vessels like you and me. On this welcome page, I freely share both my collected as well as random thoughts about Nouwen: his life, his work, his all-encompassing relationship — with God, with others, and with himself.

As we enter into the Eastertide season, let us do so as hopeful people who are eager to live the resurrection reality in the here and now even as we anticipate our future glorification with the resurrected Christ. Allow Henri Nouwen's words to penetrate our consciousness in a way that profoundly affects our lifestyle, which is one of fervent hope!

"Hope is an attitude where everything stays open before me. It is daring to stay open to whatever today will offer me, or tomorrow, two months from now or a year from now, that is hope ... Whenever we pray in hope, we put our lives in the hands of God. Fear and anxiety fade away and everything we are given and everything we are deprived of is nothing but a finger pointing out the direction of God's hidden promise"

Henri Nouwen, With Open Hands

I am particularly excited to announce that my third book on Nouwen, which rounds off my trilogy work on his spirituality, is now finally released. See what others are saying about this new book by clicking on this link.

"This book about the dynamics of the spiritual journey is
an excellent book and I heartily recommend it."

David G. Benner, PhD
psychologist, lecturer, and author
"Through the wisdom of Henri Nouwen, Wil offers us an
essential contribution to the field of spirituality. I highly
recommend his book for anyone seeking to bring their
spiritual life to new depths."

Christine Valters Paintner, PhD
Director of Abbey of the Arts
"Wil's book is an important addition to the growing
corpus of Nouwen studies. While it makes for an excellent
introduction to Nouwen's thought, it will also not
disappoint the Nouwen aficionados."

Simon Chan
Trinity Theological College, Singapore
"This work is both informational and inspirational. It
offers a significant contribution to the Nouwen materials
and is well worth reading on many levels."

Jeannette Bakke
author, spiritual director and retreat leader
"This book will be a delight to those who are walking the
journey with Nouwen; a challenge to those who question
the validity of such a journey; and a danger to those who
have domesticated the journey to their own liking."

M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.
author of Invitation to a Journey
"Wil is a teacher and a guide for all of us who wrestle
with the challenges and questions of journeying
spiritually in a secular society."

Sue Mosteller, CSJ
Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust
"Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Polarities is a masterful
guide through the vast landscape of
Henri Nouwen's thought."

Evan B. Howard
director of Spirituality Shoppe: An Evangelical Center
for the Study of Christian Spirituality
"In this third book of his trilogy on Nouwen's spirituality,
Wil offers a considerable gift to those of us on the journey
toward Christian spiritual maturity. Scripturally based, his
clarity and humility of voice make
this book a compelling read."

Norvene Vest
spiritual director and author
"Henri Nouwen's practice of 'befriending' is an invitation
to embrace our fullness precisely because we invite
both sorrow and love, untidiness and beauty, into
our exquisitely human world. Wil's portrait of
Nouwen's life of tension is
grace-giving indeed."

Terry Hershey
author of The Power of Pause
"Applying Richard Rohr's insight of 'nondualistic
consciousness,' Wil offers a compelling portrait,
not only of Henri's tension-filled life, but the
inner terrain of nearly everyone who attempts
to resolve the complexities, contradictions,
and polarities of their spiritual experience."

Michael J. Christensen, PhD
Associate Professor of Spirituality, Drew University
"Wil's third book is well-written and helpful, containing
many gems of spiritual wisdom. I highly recommend it as
essential reading for a fuller understanding of Henri
Nouwen, and a deeper spiritual life in Christ."

Rev. Siang-Yang Tan, PhD
professor of psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary
"Wil masterfully weaves Nouwen's words into a tapestry
that clearly and insightfully conveys the intricacies and
complexities involved in both/and thinking and its
ramifications for the living of life
and the doing of ministry."

Larry Warner
author of Journey with Jesus
"This reflective and insightful book will help all ministers
and those who support them on the journey inward,
outward, and Godward."

Michael Horan, PhD
Chair of Theological Studies,
Loyola Marymount University
"Wil has a knack for summarizing Nouwen's prolific
writings without draining the life out of them. What an
important figure Nouwen is today, and what a great
service Wil provides in writing this book!"

Jerry P. Haas
spiritual director, Upper Room Ministries
"Wil has already established himself as one of the leading
interpreters of Henri Nouwen's work. This final book in
his triology on Nouwen is a must read for Nouwen
enthusiasts and those seeking wholeness in our
fragmented, dualistic world."

Ken Brewer, PhD
Chair, Department of Theology at
Spring Arbor University
"Nouwen is our generation's Kierkegaard. Like
Kierkegaard, he helps introduce us to ourselves.
Wil aids us in the next step; he wonderfully
introduces us to Nouwen. You won't be
disappointed in this book."

Ron Rolheiser
president, Oblate School of Theology
"Henri Nouwen has never been more wisely and warmly
presented than he is here. Wil has done a superb job of
giving us the great man at his best and most accessible."

Phyllis Tickle
compiler of The Divine Hours
"Henri Nouwen's writings—and the witness of his life—
have been a marvelous gift to the Christian community.
Wil's assessment of Nouwen's legacy—set forth here with
sensitivity and wisdom—is also a gift!"

Dr. Richard Mouw
president, Fuller Theological Seminary
"Wil's work provides an insightful and integrative
overview of his spiritual life. As one who has been
privileged to be in Nouwen's presence, I found
myself saying 'Yes! Yes!' as I read. This book
truly brings him to life!"

Margaret Guenther
author of Holy Listening
"Wil has gloriously brought the tensions of Nouwen's
theology and life into a dance of tension and goodness.
This is a stunning book."

Dan B. Allender, PhD
founding president,
The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology
"Wil has created as good a road map for navigating the
challenges and healing potential of the human journey
as I have read. Using his deep understanding of
Nouwen's words, he shows us the truth of Nouwen's
claim that 'suffering is not an obstacle to joy
and peace, but the means to it.'"

Paula D'Arcy
author and speaker