Can You Drink the Cup?

Nouwen gives us another excellent look at the spritual life, and how we can live it to the fullest, this time by using the metaphor, of holding, lifting, and drinking the cup, as Christ did in his life, death, and resurrection. We see that in order to truly drink our cups, we must be willing to drink both joy and sorrow, to in effect, drink life to its fullest, "to the dregs," if you will. Nouwen ably uses examples of hospitality and from his life with the mentally disabled at L'arche Daybreak to make his points. Especially poignant is the story of a visit he makes to one resident who has to spend time in a mental institution, and how that resident breaks down barriers to bring joy and hospitality to some rather stuffy people. What was so wonderful about Henri Nouwen was that God was everywhere for him, in the simple as well as the most complex. His message of hope and love resonnates not only with his core Catholic constituents, but with Protestants like me, and I suspect, with people of other faiths as well. I have yet to read a book of his that hasn't moved me and helped me grow in my faith. This one is no exception. Definitely a keeper and one to be reread!

This was the first book I was required to read for a class I'm currently taking. The best way to describe it is life changing. It is not a book that can be read in one sitting even though it is a relatively short book. It raises so many questions and issues that I will be rereading it again because of how much I probably missed the first time. It speaks of raising the cup which is celebrating life in all of its many joys and sorrows. Looking at the cup which is reflecting on each experience that life brings. Can you drink the cup of life, down to the dregs? I highly recommend this book to everyone in search of purpose of life and the destiny we all have.

One of Nouwen's more autobiograhical books and also one of his last, this quiet meditation on how we deal with the difficult parts of life was very helpful to me as a parent of a child with disability. The descriptions of the L'Arche community sent me to other Nouwen works to learn more about that movement. This is very simply written and positive in its outlook. I would recommend it for an adult discussion group and also for private devotional reading (and re-reading).

Nouwen's writing style flows well and is succinct. Many touching, real life examples to illustrate his thoughts about how we should live our lives to the fullest. He uses the analogy of "the cup" not just in terms of Christ, but also the cultural ceremony we have developed over socializing with friends over a drink. Very well done.

Only 111 pages... Nouwen uses the cup and the different steps we go through when we drink: Holding the cup, Lifting the cup, and Drinking the cup as a way to discuss the human condition, and the things we must face such as how joy and sorrow are often 2 sides of the same coin. He also uses stories from his own experience and scriptural excerpts to illustrate his points.