Nouwen's problems are remarkably similar to mine. The things that drove him to retire to the monastery are the same as those that plague me day after day. He was caught in an ascending spiral of activity. Each talk, each article, each book, ignited requests for more talks and articles and books, every ring of the phone another demand on his time. This way of life is addictive.
Withdrawal symptoms occur whenever requests and letters and compliments diminish or cease.
So the victim has little choice except to continue and even escalate the activity. While speaking of the burden of letter writing, an empty mailbox made me sad. While fretting about my lecture tours, I felt disappointed when there were no invitations. While desiring to be alone, I was afraid to be alone. The priest who had been teaching and lecturing and writing about the importance of solitude, inner freedom, and peace of mind had become a prisoner, locked into unceasing activity.