The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

This is a great tool to cover many aspects of our relationship with the Father and others, it is a tool. The author hits many of the key relationship factors of everyone at the party. This will be my second time teaching this lesson to our group - I can hardly wait!

I first read this book when given to me by our pediatrician. I was deeply touched by the way in which Nouwen guides us to a deepr look into the painting and ourselves. As the leader for the Sunday Adult Book Study I chose this book to start off our fall classes. It is a delight to share this book with the members of our study group, and to see the light shining within them as the true meaning of the parable sinks in. This is a book that you will want to purchase for yourself, not borrow from a friend or library, as you will want to return to it many times throughout your life as you move through the stages of prodigal, elder son and father yourself.

The response time from ordering to shipping and my receiving was excellent! It was as promised.

This book is soul-wrenching. A Must for everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. Brings together both priest and artist: Rembrandt's insights and those of Henri Nouwen. . .

Henri Nouwen had a truly God-given gift - the gift of explaining timeless spiritual truths in very clear, ordinary language in a conversational and deeply captivating way. His words and his explanations imprint themselves into the memory and stay in the heart, and truly help to change lives. Much of his wisdom surely comes from his own struggles, which he admits to in the book - he personally struggled with depression, pride, desire for success and fame, envy, etc. - common human ailments. He also struggled with feeling unworthy of God, and with feeling distant from God. Yet, he learned to overcome his struggles (though he admits that he is still on a journey), and he describes how.

This is the third book I have read by Neuwen. After reading Life of the Beloved I really didn't think that anything could compare, but this book, if not better, is at least just as good. It is an instantly timeless spiritual classic. The whole book is a reflection on Rembrandt's painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son. First Nouwen reflects on the younger son who came back from a foreign land. Then he reflects on the older son who witnesses his younger brother's return. Finally, Nouwen reflects on the father figure. His insights are deep and beautiful. He leads the reader to a natural and yet incredible insight: that after identifying ourselves with both the younger and older brother, we must realize that rather than being either of these two brothers, we are called to become the father!