Adam God's Beloved
Adam: God's Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen, is a beautiful, and moving story about how God transformed Nouwen's thinking and changed his life forever. Nouwen was a pastor, professor, and at one point a pastoral counselor. Although, Nouwen enjoyed teaching he was convinced that God loves us as we are. There is not anything that God requires in exchange for His love. This mindset led Nouwen away from teaching to relocate to a small community named L'Arche Daybreak Community where he lived and worked . The community was established for the handicap and people with disabilities. He was given the task of caring for a severely handicapped young man named Adam. Though awkward at first, Nouwen began to experience a deep work of God in his own life
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through Adam. Unable, to move or speak, and gripped by frequent seizures, Adam spent his life in obscurity. In the eyes of the world he was a complete nobody. And yet, for Henri Nouwen he became a friend and guide, who helped him to see the face of God and understand his own limitations. Nourwen came to the realization that God speaks to us through many things. Most believe it is their duty as Christians to care for those that are less fortunate; weak, homeless and disabled. God used a less familiar approach by using Adam to impact Nourwen's thought process and life. God can use anyone or anything to speak to His children. One must be humble and willing to receive the gifts all people have to without predjudice. In reading the gospels of Jesus Christ in the bible it is evident that the words spoken by God is evident in this book; "You are my beloved". Nouwen took these words to heart, for himself and for everyone whose path he crossed. We are loved by God, we are beloved as Christ is beloved. In the Greek, word picture study of beloved means personally experiencing God's "agape-love." The title of this book is powerful.
Henri Nouwen describes Adam's early years, his public life and finally, his death and resurrection.
Which parallels a similar story in the bible about Jesus story. He states, " "The 'Christ event' is much more than something that took place long ago. [Incarnation] occurs every time spirit greets spirit in the body. It is a sacred event happening in the present because it is God's event among people. . . . It is God's ongoing incarnation whenever people meet each other 'in God's name.'" (P. 54). The titles of each chapter reflect the story of Jesus in the bible. In this description of Adam's life Henri helps the readers to see how people can be great gifts to us if we allow them. The first two chapters "Adam's hidden life" and "Adam's Desert", provide detail of Adam's early life; epilepsy, seizures, very loving parents, time in the hospital and finally, his parents long search for a place for Adam to call home. Throughout his life time Adam never spoke a word "Adam was chosen to witness to God's love through his brokenness. ...He had a few distractions, few attachments, and few ambitions to fill his inner space' (P. 30). Adam's parents and friends kept his truth alive, he was God's beloved son, not a client with a disability in need of
care. The following two chapters were titled "Adam's Public Life" and "Adam's Way". Henri learned how t o take care Adam physically, and their time together transformed Henri's life. He wasn't a care taker doing his job, but genuinely saw Adam as a friend and someone who was a tremendous inspiration in his life. "Adam seemed to be without concepts, plan, intentions, or aspirations He was simply present, offering himself in peace and completely self-emptied so that the fruits of is ministry were pure and abundant." (P.64)"While I was preoccupied with the way I was talked about or written about, Adam was quiet, telling me that God's love is more important than the praise of people" (P. 56). God created everyone unique in their own way, Henri recalled a time when, a visitor came to the house where Adam lived. He states, "I still remember a woman visiting the New House, walking right up to Adam, and saying, 'Poor man, poor man, why did this happen to you? Let me pray over you so that our dear Lord may heal you.' She motioned the assistant to make a circle around Adam to pray. But one of them gently tapped her on the shoulder and said, 'Adam doesn't need any healing; he's fine. He is just happy that you came for dinner. Please join us at the table.' I do not know whether this visitor was ever ready to be touched by Adam, to see his wholeness and holiness in his brokenness, but she did come to realize that everyone in the house was very happy with Adam the way he was." (p. 68)
Many times we do not see people through the eyes of God. We often attempt to fix a person, instead of understanding that they are God's beloved; fearfully and wonderfully made."While at first it seemed quite obvious who was handicapped and who was not, living together day in and day out made the boundaries less clear. Yes, Adam, Rosie, and Michael couldn't speak, but I spoke too much. Yes, Adam and Michael couldn't walk, but I was running around as if life was one emergency after the other. Yes, John and Roy needed help with their daily tasks, but I, too, was constantly saying, 'Help me, help me.' And when I had the courage to look deeper, to face my emotional neediness, my inability to pray, my impatience and restlessness, my many anxieties and fears, the word 'handicap' started to have a whole new meaning. The fact that my handicaps were less visible than those of Adam and his housemates didn't make them less real." (pp. 77-78)Henri goes on to reveal the profound personal and emotional crisis (P. 78) that required him to leave Daybreak for a few months for intensive therapy. During this time Henri admits to becoming as disabled as Adam. When reading chapter's 5 and 6 titled, "Adam's Passion" and "Adam's Death", it was evident that Adam's life at the age of thirty four was one of passion. Like Jesus, who endured a time of "passion" after a public ministry, while dying on the cross. Herni identifies Adam's passion as a " radical call to accept the truth of our lives". "Death is such a mystery, forcing us to ask ourselves, 'Why do I live? How do I live? For whom do I live?' and also, 'Am I prepared to die . . . now . . . later?'" (pp.101-102)The peaceful presence of Adam invited all around him to create a loving community where he could live a full meaningful live. Both Adam's life and death helped Henri to befriend his own death and understand God did not leave him alone. In conclusion of chapters 7 and 8 "Adam's Wake and Burial" and "Adam's Resurrection" as well as Adam's Spirit" the family, friends and L'Arche assistants came from all over the United States and Canada to attend Adam's funeral. As dirt was shoveled onto the lowered casket many struggled to continue on with Adam. During the following month, Henri received revelation and stated, "Every time I told [Adam's story] I could see new life and new hope emerging in the hearts of my listening friends. My grief became their joy, my loss was their gain, and my dying their coming to new life. Very slowly I started to see Adam coming alive in the hearts of those who had never known him, as if they were being made part of a great mystery. . . . Is this when is resurrection began, in the midst of my grief? That is what happened to the mourning Mary of Magdalene . . . for the disciples on the road to Emmaus . . . for the disciples in the upper room . . . for the grieving friends of Jesus who went back to fishing in the lake. . . . Mourning turns to dancing, grief turns to joy, despair turns to hope, and fear turns to love. Then hesitantly someone is saying, 'He is risen, he is risen indeed." (pp. 119-120) "His mission is fulfilled. Yet it is not over. It will never be over, because love is stronger than fear and life is stronger than death. Adam's love and Adam's life are not meant for corruption. They are eternal, because they are part of God's love and God's life." (John 16:6-7, 13) (p. 122) "I know that I couldn't have told Adam's story if I hadn't first known Jesus' story. Jesus' story gave me eyes to see and ears to hear the story of Adam's life and death." (p. 126)
through Adam. Unable, to move or speak, and gripped by frequent seizures, Adam spent his life in obscurity. In the eyes of the world he was a complete nobody. And yet, for Henri Nouwen he became a friend and guide, who helped him to see the face of God and understand his own limitations. Nourwen came to the realization that God speaks to us through many things. Most believe it is their duty as Christians to care for those that are less fortunate; weak, homeless and disabled. God used a less familiar approach by using Adam to impact Nourwen's thought process and life. God can use anyone or anything to speak to His children. One must be humble and willing to receive the gifts all people have to without predjudice. In reading the gospels of Jesus Christ in the bible it is evident that the words spoken by God is evident in this book; "You are my beloved". Nouwen took these words to heart, for himself and for everyone whose path he crossed. We are loved by God, we are beloved as Christ is beloved. In the Greek, word picture study of beloved means personally experiencing God's "agape-love." The title of this book is powerful.
Henri Nouwen describes Adam's early years, his public life and finally, his death and resurrection.
Which parallels a similar story in the bible about Jesus story. He states, " "The 'Christ event' is much more than something that took place long ago. [Incarnation] occurs every time spirit greets spirit in the body. It is a sacred event happening in the present because it is God's event among people. . . . It is God's ongoing incarnation whenever people meet each other 'in God's name.'" (P. 54). The titles of each chapter reflect the story of Jesus in the bible. In this description of Adam's life Henri helps the readers to see how people can be great gifts to us if we allow them. The first two chapters "Adam's hidden life" and "Adam's Desert", provide detail of Adam's early life; epilepsy, seizures, very loving parents, time in the hospital and finally, his parents long search for a place for Adam to call home. Throughout his life time Adam never spoke a word "Adam was chosen to witness to God's love through his brokenness. ...He had a few distractions, few attachments, and few ambitions to fill his inner space' (P. 30). Adam's parents and friends kept his truth alive, he was God's beloved son, not a client with a disability in need of
care. The following two chapters were titled "Adam's Public Life" and "Adam's Way". Henri learned how t o take care Adam physically, and their time together transformed Henri's life. He wasn't a care taker doing his job, but genuinely saw Adam as a friend and someone who was a tremendous inspiration in his life. "Adam seemed to be without concepts, plan, intentions, or aspirations He was simply present, offering himself in peace and completely self-emptied so that the fruits of is ministry were pure and abundant." (P.64)"While I was preoccupied with the way I was talked about or written about, Adam was quiet, telling me that God's love is more important than the praise of people" (P. 56). God created everyone unique in their own way, Henri recalled a time when, a visitor came to the house where Adam lived. He states, "I still remember a woman visiting the New House, walking right up to Adam, and saying, 'Poor man, poor man, why did this happen to you? Let me pray over you so that our dear Lord may heal you.' She motioned the assistant to make a circle around Adam to pray. But one of them gently tapped her on the shoulder and said, 'Adam doesn't need any healing; he's fine. He is just happy that you came for dinner. Please join us at the table.' I do not know whether this visitor was ever ready to be touched by Adam, to see his wholeness and holiness in his brokenness, but she did come to realize that everyone in the house was very happy with Adam the way he was." (p. 68)
Many times we do not see people through the eyes of God. We often attempt to fix a person, instead of understanding that they are God's beloved; fearfully and wonderfully made."While at first it seemed quite obvious who was handicapped and who was not, living together day in and day out made the boundaries less clear. Yes, Adam, Rosie, and Michael couldn't speak, but I spoke too much. Yes, Adam and Michael couldn't walk, but I was running around as if life was one emergency after the other. Yes, John and Roy needed help with their daily tasks, but I, too, was constantly saying, 'Help me, help me.' And when I had the courage to look deeper, to face my emotional neediness, my inability to pray, my impatience and restlessness, my many anxieties and fears, the word 'handicap' started to have a whole new meaning. The fact that my handicaps were less visible than those of Adam and his housemates didn't make them less real." (pp. 77-78)Henri goes on to reveal the profound personal and emotional crisis (P. 78) that required him to leave Daybreak for a few months for intensive therapy. During this time Henri admits to becoming as disabled as Adam. When reading chapter's 5 and 6 titled, "Adam's Passion" and "Adam's Death", it was evident that Adam's life at the age of thirty four was one of passion. Like Jesus, who endured a time of "passion" after a public ministry, while dying on the cross. Herni identifies Adam's passion as a " radical call to accept the truth of our lives". "Death is such a mystery, forcing us to ask ourselves, 'Why do I live? How do I live? For whom do I live?' and also, 'Am I prepared to die . . . now . . . later?'" (pp.101-102)The peaceful presence of Adam invited all around him to create a loving community where he could live a full meaningful live. Both Adam's life and death helped Henri to befriend his own death and understand God did not leave him alone. In conclusion of chapters 7 and 8 "Adam's Wake and Burial" and "Adam's Resurrection" as well as Adam's Spirit" the family, friends and L'Arche assistants came from all over the United States and Canada to attend Adam's funeral. As dirt was shoveled onto the lowered casket many struggled to continue on with Adam. During the following month, Henri received revelation and stated, "Every time I told [Adam's story] I could see new life and new hope emerging in the hearts of my listening friends. My grief became their joy, my loss was their gain, and my dying their coming to new life. Very slowly I started to see Adam coming alive in the hearts of those who had never known him, as if they were being made part of a great mystery. . . . Is this when is resurrection began, in the midst of my grief? That is what happened to the mourning Mary of Magdalene . . . for the disciples on the road to Emmaus . . . for the disciples in the upper room . . . for the grieving friends of Jesus who went back to fishing in the lake. . . . Mourning turns to dancing, grief turns to joy, despair turns to hope, and fear turns to love. Then hesitantly someone is saying, 'He is risen, he is risen indeed." (pp. 119-120) "His mission is fulfilled. Yet it is not over. It will never be over, because love is stronger than fear and life is stronger than death. Adam's love and Adam's life are not meant for corruption. They are eternal, because they are part of God's love and God's life." (John 16:6-7, 13) (p. 122) "I know that I couldn't have told Adam's story if I hadn't first known Jesus' story. Jesus' story gave me eyes to see and ears to hear the story of Adam's life and death." (p. 126)