Henri Nouwen provides a well thought out view on dying. His concern is that we should treat dying as a normal part of living and we should examine our relationship with God. Death is a beautiful entrence to the Kingdom of Heaven and should be considered the next step in our life with God. This is an excellent book for those in ministry who work with families who are in grief due to the death of a loved one. The material provides background that may be utilized during funerals and consoling family members.

The death of his friend, "Moe" who had Down's syndrome, caused Henri Nouwen to relook at one inescapable fact of all our lives. Is death so terrible that it must be feared, never spoken of or thought of? Speaker and author Nouwen thinks not and explains his thesis in this brief meditation.

Drawing on his own feelings upon reaching the age when he was closer to his death than his birth and the experiences of many friends, Nouwen crafted a slim volume in which he reminds us that we are children of God, brothers and sisters of each other, and parents of generations to come.

"Our Greatest Gift" is a warm and simple meditation discussing the realities involved in caring for those who are dying and in facing death ourselves.

- Gail Cooke