--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want my work to create space where…" description: "\"I want my work to create space where people can meet God, rather than give them something they can \"apply\" to their daily life.\" — Henri Nouwen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/henri-nouwen-600_daily-life_i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-peo_2937619.png" --- # I want my work to create space where people can meet God… ![“I want my work to create space where people can meet God, rather than give them something they can "apply" to their daily life.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/henri-nouwen-600_daily-life_i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-peo_2937619.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/henri-nouwen-600_daily-life_i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-peo_2937619.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/henri-nouwen-600_daily-life_i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-peo_2937619.png) > “I want my work to create space where people can meet God, rather than give them something they can "apply" to their daily life.” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He wants his work to foster encounters with the divine rather than provide practical life hacks. **In simple terms:** Create space for divine encounter, not just practical advice. Key Takeaway Focus on spiritual presence over utility. Themes spirituality purpose encounter Mood contemplative hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - church services - personal retreats - counseling sessions - spiritual direction Key Concepts theology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you design a space that invites divine presence? - What practical steps can support deeper spiritual encounters? A Different Perspective May be too abstract for everyday application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Create Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-space/) [Daily life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-life/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [God Apply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-apply-2701505/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meet God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meet-god/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-work/) [Work Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-create-515500/) ## Related quotes > [Tabletalk Magazine exists to help establish us in the Word to deepen our understanding of God and apply this knowledge to our daily living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/tabletalk-magazine-exists-to-help-establish-us-in-the-word-to-deepen/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [If you meet God in solitude, you discover the God you meet is the God who embraces all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-meet-god-in-solitude-you-discover-the-god-you-meet-is-the-god/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“We work to create workplaces where everyone can bring our whole selves to work every single day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selisse-berry/we-work-to-create-workplaces-where-everyone-can-bring-our-whole/) [Selisse Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selisse-berry/) > [“Over-communication at work can create a new level of tasks and responsibilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-davidson/over-communication-at-work-can-create-a-new-level-of-tasks-and/) [Jeff Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-davidson/) > [The work that I create for myself has to be enough to sustain me, creatively. It's tricky because this industry is so much about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-dacosta/the-work-that-i-create-for-myself-has-to-be-enough-to-sustain-me/) [Nia DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-dacosta/) > [“Work to enjoy life. Work to create value. Work to survive, strive and thrive. But do not work...to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/work-to-enjoy-life-work-to-create-value-work-to-survive-strive-and/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“Without strength, can we work to create wealth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/without-strength-can-we-work-to-create-wealth/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Writers create themselves as they create their work. Or perhaps they create their work in order to create themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/writers-create-themselves-as-they-create-their-work-or-perhaps-they/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [A child's work is to create the person she/he will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/a-child-s-work-is-to-create-the-person-she-he-will-become/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [The one thing that I've always wanted to do with my work is to create value and that's something that I've been able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit-saraf/the-one-thing-that-i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-with-my-work-is-to-create/) [Rohit Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohit-saraf/) > [It's wonderful to be able to think about work. But you have to create; you have to still have your personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/it-s-wonderful-to-be-able-to-think-about-work-but-you-have-to-create/) [Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/) > [The future is not a scenario written, which we only have to act out; it is a work which we have to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-garaudy/the-future-is-not-a-scenario-written-which-we-only-have-to-act-out-it/) [Roger Garaudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-garaudy/) > [When there is no work, I create my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-dhupia/when-there-is-no-work-i-create-my-own/) [Neha Dhupia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-dhupia/) > [Besides, you don't work for a dollar - you work to create and have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/besides-you-don-t-work-for-a-dollar-you-work-to-create-and-have-fun/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [“Your body of work is everything you create, contribute, affect, and impact. For individuals, it is the personal legacy you leave at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-slim/your-body-of-work-is-everything-you-create-contribute-affect-and/) [Pamela Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-slim/) ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More Daily life quotes > [Daily life is both the subject and environment of the work I am making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/daily-life-is-both-the-subject-and-environment-of-the-work-i-am-making/) [Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“I should say that it was only for me that Marxism seemed over. Surely, I would tell G. at least once a week, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katha-pollitt/i-should-say-that-it-was-only-for-me-that-marxism-seemed-over-surely/) [Katha Pollitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katha-pollitt/) > [I want to show that drama doesn't lie only in blood and destroyed buildings but in daily life, in ordinary human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmila-zbanic/i-want-to-show-that-drama-doesn-t-lie-only-in-blood-and-destroyed/) [Jasmila Zbanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmila-zbanic/) > [“There is no randomness about your life. Here and Now comprise the coordinates of your daily life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-young/there-is-no-randomness-about-your-life-here-and-now-comprise-the/) [Sarah Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-young/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [ The \[Tumor Treating Fields\] patients can undergo all the activities of their daily life. There's none of the tiredness. There's none of what is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-doyle/the-tumor-treating-fields-patients-can-undergo-all-the-activities-of/) [William Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-doyle/) > [You do research into specific occupations of the character, with specific behaviorisms that their daily life might give them. You do as much research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-burnet/you-do-research-into-specific-occupations-of-the-character-with/) [Guy Burnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-burnet/) > [“Each day I will accomplish one thing on my to list.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/each-day-i-will-accomplish-one-thing-on-my-to-list/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“To believe that God can reach us and bless us in the ordinary junctures of daily life is the stuff of prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/to-believe-that-god-can-reach-us-and-bless-us-in-the-ordinary/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/people-of-the-philippines-i-have-returned-by-the-grace-of-almighty/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Don't try to prove yourself the extra mile, your daily Life is enough to do that for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/don-t-try-to-prove-yourself-the-extra-mile-your-daily-life-is-enough/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [If you ask ... the man in the street ... the human significance of mathematics, the answer of the world will be, that mathematics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassius-jackson-keyser/if-you-ask-the-man-in-the-street-the-human-significance-of/) [Cassius Jackson Keyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassius-jackson-keyser/) > [As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-you-take-the-normal-opportunities-of-your-daily-life-and-create/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) [Browse all 1,299 Daily life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want my work to create space where people can meet God, rather than give them something they can \"apply\" to their daily life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Nouwen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-people-can-meet-god-rather-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Daily life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-people-can-meet-god-rather-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/henri-nouwen-600_daily-life_i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-peo_2937619.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/henri-nouwen-600_daily-life_i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-peo_2937619.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/henri-nouwen-600_daily-life_i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-peo_2937619.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want my work to create space where people can meet God, rather than give them something they can \"apply\"…” — Henri Nouwen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henri Nouwen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I want my work to create...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-people-can-meet-god-rather-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-want-my-work-to-create-space-where-people-can-meet-god-rather-than/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```