Adam: God's Beloved

by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Hardcover, 1997

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Available

Description

From the best-selling author of The Return of the Prodigal Son, essential listening for Catholics, other Christians, and all spiritual seekers In the final year before his death in 1996, Henri Nouwen wrote an account of the death of his friend Adam, a severely handicapped young man from L'Arche. In the story of Adam he found a way to describe his own understanding of the Gospel message. Adam could not speak or even move without assistance. Gripped by frequent seizures, he spent his life in obscurity. And yet, for Nouwen, he became his friend, teacher, and guide. It was Adam who led Nouwen to a new understanding of his faith and what it means to be Beloved of God. Through this story, Nouwen found a new way to tell God's story and the story of all of us human creatures, broken and yet beloved, who live in a world charged and alive with the mystery of God's love. Completed only weeks before Nouwen's own death, Adam became a final, precious gift, a fitting reflection of his own message and legacy. Available as an audiobook for the first time ever, Adam: God's Beloved, invites you to rediscover in your own life what it means to be God's Beloved. This course is part of the Learn25 collection which includes several original titles by Henri Nouwen.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member ElOsoBlanco

Nouwen's story did well to illustrate the ways in which we often fail to recognize our worth as beloved children of God, and the ways in which the severely handicapped Adam showed him that. Adam served as a physical representation of Jesus, offering him presence and loving others in a way that was

profound for the author. While the work is very compelling, I often felt I needed more. More in the way of description. Details that would allow me to place myself more deeply in the story of Adam and Henri. I needed a little more depth. Even without it, I was touched by Adam's story, and came away with a changed outlook on presence, and God's love.

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LibraryThing member hobbitprincess

The author spent several years living in an L'Arche community in Toronto where he cared for and befriended Adam, a young man with severe intellectual disabilities. As a priest and pastor, Nouwen reflects on the lessons he learned while being around Adam. The most valuable lesson to me is that all

people are children of God and all have value. I'll share a brief quotation that sums this up: "He was a person, who by his very life announced the marvelous mystery of our God: I am precious, beloved, whole, and born of God."Since I taught young adults very much like Adam, I can understand what Nouwen has seen. I have seen God through my former students many times, and the memories of those years continue to inspire me. I do think, however, that at times Nouwen stretches what he sees in Adam to match his own feelings and beliefs. The inspiration is definitely there, but it does feel a bit contrived at times. This is still a valuable read. If I were still teaching, the quotation above would be posted in my room.

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