THE GENESEE DIARY

Nouwen was a Dutch Roman Catholic priest, author of many books and revered by many as one of their favorite authors on themes of the Christian view of spirituality.  In 1974 he spent seven months in a Trappist Monastery in up-state New York and during that period he kept a diary; this was not written with a view to being printed but probably it represents just about the best of Nouwen’s writings because of its transparency as he records his reactions to monastic life when he was able to withdraw from his busy lecturing and traveling schedule to pursue a deeper walk with and knowledge of God.  He does not hone the writing as an author would his other writing; this is honest, open disclosure and all the richer for that.  It is a personal journal and probes many aspects of spiritual life as its author was challenged in the midst of the slow, steady rhythms of his retreat life with its round of worship, prayer, manual (and often boring) labor and the absence of much conversation with the monks for part of each day.  For those who are prepared to face the truth about themselves whilst seeking to know God this is a good read as its author examines his personal reactions and elements of self-discovery taking place during his sojourn.  Evidently the abbot John Eudes was a wise and patient spiritual director to Nouwen as he found certain answers emerging as to what it was that had prevented Christ being at the center of his life.  There is evidence of a pilgrimage in this journal because it does begin with personal conflict and argument as he gets to grips with this unusual way of living, it exposes things he had not expected to find or had no desire to face, but, by the time he draws to the end of the seven months at the Genesee he has found an inward calm and “a quiet stream underneath the fluctuating affirmations and rejections of our little world.”   Nouwen was a Christian, a Roman Catholic Priest, someone tutored in psychology, constantly devouring books of all kinds, always on the search to know and understand God and life and for those who seek for the repose and labor that spring from knowing God and walking with Him this book will contribute some help and encouragement.