Being more important than doing?

Is being more important than doing? I’ve been reading one of Henry Nouwen’s masterpieces titled Adam, written during and after Nouwen’s time at L’Arche assisted living facility. Adam was a young 22 year old in desperate need of a “helper” to assist him in the little details of life. Tasks such as getting out of bed, cleaning and washing, getting dressed, transportation, and all other things that go along with living. Amongst the many things Adam had trouble with, one was that he couldn’t speak. He was unable to communicate through words with those around him, which made it unquestionably difficult for him to live within community.

One of the most present people around Adam was Henry Nouwen. Nouwen writes about the amazing nonverbal impact Adam had in his life during his time living life with Adam. Something that literally jumps off the page and smacks readers in the mouth speaks into the truth of the core of who we are, and what we are all so desperate in trying to prove to one another, society and culture as a whole.

“‘Being is more important than doing.’ While I [Nouwen] was preoccupied with the way I was talked about or written about, Adam was quietly telling me that ‘God’s love is more important than the praise of people.’ While I was concerned about my individual accomplishments, Adam was reminding me that ‘doing things together is more important than doing things alone.’ Adam couldn’t produce anything, had no fame to be proud of, couldn’t brag of any award or trophy. But by his life, he was the most radical witness to the truth of our lives that I ever encountered.” -Adam, 1996.

I 100% concur with Nouwen’s sentiments; he’s right on- being is more important than doing. How many of us constantly strive to “make a name for ourselves?” I would conclude that most of us- at some point- have tried or are actively trying to have our name carry some sort of performance, achievement, or ability weight.

What would it look like if we were not looking to make a name for ourselves, but lived under the giant umbrella of God’s truth in who we are? What would life look like if we were not attempting to put our name above God’s?

I believe our thoughts would echo Adam and Nouwen’s. I would argue that God’s love is more important than the praise of people, yet we hopelessly attempt to gain others' opinions before God’s (maybe because it's tangible). And, in that argument I would pose the question: why do we all so desperately want to appease the people around us over or before God?

Let’s live together in community, lifting one another up in love, all the while living under that wonderful umbrella of God’s love- we are dearly and deeply loved by our Father. We are His beloved. Please let no voice speak louder than the voice of our God.

Being is more important than doing.

Amen.