pat loughery

Becoming Human

by Jean Vanier

Paulist Press (1998)

Description of the Book

In Becoming Human, Jean Vanier challenges us to evolve as human beings by growing from solitary, lonely individuals to relational, communal beings that open ourselves to others.

Interpretation of the Book

Vanier writes five sections of the book, beginning by focusing on loneliness and the ways that we exclude others based on our fear of differences. Next, Vanier discusses belonging and communion, stating that belonging to families and groups is an essential part of being human. The third section of the book focuses on the ways we move from exclusion to inclusion, which transforms us from loneliness to belonging, moving from fears of differences to freedom in uniqueness. The fourth describes freedom from pursuing our own needs and lists seven steps on the path to freedom. The final chapter is on forgiveness of others, both individually and as groups..

Application

Like Vanier’s other work, Community and Growth, Becoming Humanis written simply and with a very clear sense of the challenge of being open in community as well as practical thoughts and stories about becoming more open and simply, deeply human.

Although I usually find lists and steps particularly helpful and overly simplistic, I found many of Vanier’s principles and steps thought provoking and challenging. Five principles of human change (p. 14), seven aspects of love necessary for heart transformation (p. 22), four signs of healthy groups (p. 60), seven steps to freedom (p. 125), three principles of forgiveness and five steps to receiving forgiveness (p. 152) are each worthy of contemplation, journaling and exploring further.

Vanier’s insight into the essential approach for relationship – recognizing our shared humanity with others, no matter how like or unlike we are – is the transcendent theme of the book, and it is the one that is easiest to forget, and most difficult to live into.