Creating Access and Inclusion in Worship

Quotes From The Vulnerable Journey

Father Henri Nouwen laid the spiritual foundation for the Pathways Awareness Open Hearts, Open Minds movement with his keynote address "The Vulnerable Journey" at the 1996 Pathways Awareness Inclusion in Worship Conference. Use these quotes as an inspiration when planning your Inclusion Awareness Day celebration or run them in your parish bulletin in anticipation of your celebration.

"I was always studying about God and teaching about God to all these bright students. I wanted to be smarter than others. I wanted to show them that I could be "with it". And I suddenly realized that it is not in strength and power that God was coming to me, but in weakness."

"Think about the great mystery: God revealed His love in vulnerability, in brokenness, in weakness, not only long ago when Jesus lived, but right now."

"As I helped him day after day I suddenly realized that Adam was leading me to a place of prayer, a place of intimacy, a place of community, a place of God. This very, very disabled man became truly my theology teacher."

"Whether our disabilities are visible of not, we all have them."

"God's love becomes visible, not where we are powerful, not where we are strong."

"The community of the church is created when we say „I need you brother. I need you sister. You have a gift for me and with that gift I can grow closer to you and to God. And together we can make the journey home."