--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That is our vocation: to convert the…" description: "\"That is our vocation: to convert the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-enem_3010903.png" --- # That is our vocation: to convert the enemy into a guest… ![“That is our vocation: to convert the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-enem_3010903.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-enem_3010903.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-enem_3010903.png) > “That is our vocation: to convert the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.” [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. Transforming enemies into guests creates a space for mutual growth and solidarity. **In simple terms:** Turn hostility into hospitality for deeper connection. Key Takeaway Invite former foes into shared space. Themes peace reconciliation community Mood hopeful thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - team building - interfaith dialogue - social activism Key Concepts empathy hospitality spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you extend hospitality to an adversary? - What boundaries are needed for safe transformation? A Different Perspective Changing hearts is slow and may meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fearless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearless/) [Sisterhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sisterhood/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) ## Related quotes > [“But still – that is our vocation: to convert the hostis into a hospes, the enemy into a guest and to create the free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-hostis-into-a-hospes/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [For a better, happier, more stable and civilized future, each of us must develop a sincere, warm-hearted feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/for-a-better-happier-more-stable-and-civilized-future-each-of-us-must/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The realization that we are all basically the same human beings who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering is very helpful in developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-realization-that-we-are-all-basically-the-same-human-beings-who/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“To live! like a tree alone and free, To live! like a forest in brotherhood/sisterhood...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz-m-hikmet/to-live-like-a-tree-alone-and-free-to-live-like-a-forest-in/) [Nâzım Hikmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz-m-hikmet/) > [“We are the Bloodsworn, closer than kin. A brotherhood, a sisterhood: we live and die together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gwynne/we-are-the-bloodsworn-closer-than-kin-a-brotherhood-a-sisterhood-we/) [John Gwynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gwynne/) > [The greatest brotherhood, sisterhood that I was ever a part of are veterans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/the-greatest-brotherhood-sisterhood-that-i-was-ever-a-part-of-are/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [The problems we face today, violent conflicts, destruction of nature, poverty, hunger and so on, are human-created problems which can be resolved through human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-problems-we-face-today-violent-conflicts-destruction-of-nature/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Sometimes religion becomes yet another source for more division and even open conflict. 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Giving is very important: giving insight, giving hope, giving courage, giving advice, giving support,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-importance-of-receiving-receiving-often-is-harder-than-giving/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“THE FIVE CONTEMPLATIONS 1.This food is a gift of the Earth, the sky, numerous living beings, and much hard and loving work. 2.May we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/the-five-contemplations-1-this-food-is-a-gift-of-the-earth-the-sky/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [Peacemaking is a full-time vocation that includes each member of God's people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/peacemaking-is-a-full-time-vocation-that-includes-each-member-of-god/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Prayer is not one of the many things the community does. Rather, it is its very beingBut when prayer is no longer its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/prayer-is-not-one-of-the-many-things-the-community-does-rather-it-is/) [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/) > [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [I've been screwed by as many women as I have by men, in terms of lawyers. But lawyers don't count. If you take lawyers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/i-ve-been-screwed-by-as-many-women-as-i-have-by-men-in-terms-of/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) ## 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. 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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 Brotherhood quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [Saying that the origin of the Islamic State (IS) is within the Muslim Brotherhood organisation only strengthens IS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/saying-that-the-origin-of-the-islamic-state-is-is-within-the-muslim/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [“All the same I keep on looking for someone incomprehensible who won't understand me either, because I have a terrible thirst for brotherhood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-ajar/all-the-same-i-keep-on-looking-for-someone-incomprehensible-who-won-t/) Emile Ajar > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [This is me and my older brother alasandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother/this-is-me-and-my-older-brother-alasandro/) Brother > [You may call for peace as loudly as you wish, but where there is no brotherhood there can in the end be no peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/you-may-call-for-peace-as-loudly-as-you-wish-but-where-there-is-no/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [Overall, we had about 50 meetings where the brothers would say that I couldn't do any solo records, I couldn't write for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/overall-we-had-about-50-meetings-where-the-brothers-would-say-that-i/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [My brothers and I would try to talk our dad into letting us stay up and watch 'Star Trek.' I remember watching it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/my-brothers-and-i-would-try-to-talk-our-dad-into-letting-us-stay-up/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I work incredibly hard - just like every other person in business and work. And aside from the fact of, yes, I am the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/i-work-incredibly-hard-just-like-every-other-person-in-business-and/) [James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/) > [I have 10 brothers and sisters. 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