I’ve always enjoyed Fred Rogers who ran the TV show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. When I ran across this article about him this week, I was so inspired to continue being the Christian God has called me to be, no matter what circumstances get tossed my way. Hope you are inspired by it as well.

Henri Nouwen & Fred Rogers were friends, writing back & forth to one another over the years. Finding this out was such a joy for me, particularly given my love and appreciation for both men and their work.

At one point, Fred sent Henri a particularly discouraging article that had been written about him and the ministry that Fred had with young children. Words like these, attacking Fred’s character and questioning his intentions, were deeply wounding to him, and given the propensity of his friend, Henri, to speak openly of human pain, suffering, and healing, I can only imagine that it would be have been altogether natural to seek comfort from him.

This is a part of Henri’s reply.

“I read the article you sent me and can very well understand how much that must have hurt you. It must be really painful to be confronted with a total misunderstanding of your mission and your spiritual intentions.

It is these little persecutions within the church that hurt the most. I simply hope that you are not too surprised by them. They come and will keep coming precisely when you do something significant for the Kingdom. It has always struck me that the real pain comes often from the people from whom we expected real support. It was Jesus’ experience and the experience of all the great visionaries in the Church, and it continues to be the experience of many who are committed to Jesus.

I don’t think it makes much sense to argue with the writer of this article. He speaks from a very different plane and will not be open to your explanations. Some of the criticisms we simply have to suffer and see as invitations to enter deeper into the heart of Jesus. I won’t send you some of the reviews I get of my books, but some are not very different from the tone of this piece. So I certainly feel a unique solidarity with you.

Let us pray for each other, that we remain faithful and not become bitter and that we continue to return to the center where we can find the joy and peace that is not of this world.”

If you and your heart for Jesus and others has been misunderstood, friends, and if others who call Jesus Lord have been a source of harsh words directed toward you, perhaps this is a letter for you today as well. If your commitment to kindness, welcome, and seeking to live out unconditional love has come under attack by others, particularly those who read the same Bible you do, perhaps these words are also for you.

Let us pray for one another, that we would remain faithful and kind, not becoming bitter or angry in such a way that our hearts would harden within us. Instead, may we encourage one another to return to the center – to Jesus, at work as he is through the Holy Spirit within us – helping joy and peace find root in our lives in ways that this world may not understand.

Christ’s peace and strength to you, friends.
Continue to love, continue to welcome, continue to be kind.

Juanita Edge, Communication Director