Information about the book

Unlacing the Heart: Connecting with What Really Matters by Henry B. Freeman. John's Press. North Carolina. 2015 (Amazon)

Summary

From Amazon: Unlacing the Heart is a book of true-life stories that capture moments of deep personal connection between people living very different lives. Of Alfredo, a homeless man who invited Henry Freeman into his life; of Jane, a Yale student who needed help coming out from under the burden of a high society family; of Sister Margaret, a Franciscan nun who joyfully shared her gift for uncovering the good in people we often fear and hate; of Mary, a person trapped in the body of a bag lady with only one true friend; and of an elderly woman also named Margaret who found in a meal of Omaha steak and asparagus a safe space to share her joys, her fears and the news of her pending death. Henry Freeman shares with us a rare gift that extends far beyond his professional expertise as a fundraising consultant. It is a gift he, a Quaker, received from his mentor and friend Henri Nouwen, an author and Catholic theologian whose writings on spirituality and the human condition touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Indeed, the author’s most powerful stories—the ones that lead readers on an inner journey and exploration of their own vulnerable spaces—reflect the presence of Nouwen in the author’s life and the words he shares in this book’s pages.

Impressions

Chapter 5 of this book, "Steak and Asparagus with Margaret" was one of my reading assignments for the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising.  I read the chapter for the class and then went back and read the rest of the book.  Chapter 5 was particularly useful in understanding fundraising and its spiritual nature.

The book is a series of stories told from the experience of Henry Freeman, a fundraising consultant.  It is a vulnerable look at his work, including his time-off to live for a year in an orphanage in El Salvador. I appreciated his stories of his friendship with Henri Nouwen and how Nouwen has influenced his work.

I would recommend this book.  It isn't my favorite book related to the field, but its vulnerability, stories, and connection to spirituality are all positive aspects of the writing.

Posts about the book

Any posts about this book will be tagged with Freeman Unlacing