Taking, Blessing, Breaking, Giving – Henri Nouwen

To identify the movements of the Spirit in our lives, I have found it helpful to use four words: “taken,” “blessed,” “broken,” and “given.” These words summarize my life as a priest because each day, when I come together around the table with members of my community, I take bread, bless it, break it, and give it. These words also summarize my life as a Christian because, as a Christian, I am called to become bread for the world: bread that is taken, blessed, broken, and given. Most importantly, however, they summarize my life as a human being because in every moment of my life somewhere, somehow the taking, the blessing, the breaking, and the giving are happening.You, O Lord, have also known fear. You have been deeply troubled; your sweat and tears were signs of your fear. Make my fear, O Lord, part of yours, so that it will lead me not to darkness but to the light, and will give me a new understanding of the hope of your cross. Amen. — Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

Reflection Question: Consider where you experience each of these four words in your life: being taken, being blessed, being broken, and being given.