Adam: Mein Freund ohne Worte

by Henri J.M. Nouwen, Eva Weyandt (translator), Sue Mosteller (foreword)

Eigentlich wollte Henri Nouwen ein Buch über das Wesentliche des christlichen Glaubens schreiben. Der Professor hatte die Universität Harvard verlassen und war Seelsorger der Arche-Gemeinschaft geworden, in der Menschen mit und ohne geistige Behinderung zusammenleben.

Dann starb Adam, ein junger Mann mit Einschränkungen, den Henri Nouwen intensiv begleitet hatte. Dabei war Adam ihm – ganz ohne Worte – zum Freund und Wegbegleiter, ja zum Lehrer geworden.

Und so schildert Henri Nouwen hier das Leben von Adam. Damit schlägt er eine Brücke zum Mit einfachen und berührenden Worten beschreibt er, was es bedeutet, Gottes geliebtes Kind zu sein.

"Adam war ein unglaublich kostbares Geschenk für mich. Er ist mein Ratgeber und Lehrer, der nie ein einziges Wort zu mir sagen konnte, der mir aber mehr beigebracht hat als alle Bücher, Professoren oder geistlichen Leiter zusammen."

138 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2022

About the author

Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, theologian, psychologist, professor, and spiritual writer whose work profoundly shaped contemporary Christian spirituality. Born in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, in 1932, Nouwen pursued religious studies and was ordained a priest in 1957. His intellectual curiosity led him to study psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen and later at the Menninger Clinic in Kansas, where he explored the connection between faith and mental health. Throughout his life, Nouwen remained committed to integrating pastoral care, psychology, and spiritual theology in a way that addressed the emotional and existential needs of believers.
Nouwen held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He authored over three dozen books and hundreds of articles, with notable works such as The Wounded Healer, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Life of the Beloved, and The Inner Voice of Love. His writing, often rooted in personal vulnerability and spiritual struggle, resonated with readers across denominations. Nouwen openly explored themes of loneliness, identity, intimacy, and the human desire for love and belonging, making his voice especially relatable and influential.
Though he was a gifted academic and popular speaker, Nouwen found his deepest calling later in life through his involvement with L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After a transformative stay at the original L’Arche community in France, Nouwen accepted an invitation to become the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. There he developed a close bond with Adam Arnett, a core member with severe disabilities, which inspired the book Adam: God’s Beloved. At Daybreak, Nouwen discovered a deep spiritual home and a community that helped him embrace his humanity in profound ways.
Throughout his life, Nouwen wrestled with issues of identity, including his sexuality and his longing for connection, though he remained faithful to his vows. His openness about depression and inner conflict gave depth to his pastoral message, and his ability to turn personal struggle into shared spiritual insight made him one of the most beloved spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen died in 1996 of a sudden heart attack, but his legacy endures through his writings, the Henri Nouwen Society, and the continued global reach of his message of belovedness, vulnerability, and compassionate community. His books remain bestsellers, widely read in seminaries, churches, and among individuals seeking a more intimate walk with God.