Nouwen, 1972. Introduction, "The Four Open Doors"

Nouwen, Henri J. The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society. New York: Doubleday, 1972. Kindle Edition.

Introduction, “The Four Open Doors” (Loc. 82)

In this book Nouwen opens four doors of life to consider what is behind them, realizing that every door in life leads to many more. “The first door represents the condition of a suffering world (Chapter 1); the second door, the condition of a suffering generation (Chapter 2); the third door, the condition of a suffering man (Chapter 3); and the fourth door, the condition of a suffering minister” (Loc. 87). As he wrote this book, Nouwen says he came to a realization that all of life and ministry was finding its focus on the healer who is wounded.