Adam, Where art Thou?

Some weeks ago I was talking to my good friend Jason Hewlett (If you don’t know who Jason is, Google him and you will be blessed) and asked him if he had read any good books lately. He told me that one of his favorites was “Clay in the Masters Hands” by R. Wayne Shute. Trusting his opinion I went looking for it at all my usual book sources but was unable to find it. I ultimately bought it online from Latter Day Light Books.

“Clay in the Master’s Hands” is a compilation of stories by well known LDS authors on the topic of understanding trials. I was moved by several of the stories but am writing today about the one by Brother Wayne Shute himself. It is found in the final chapter of the book that bears the same name as the title.

Brother Shute starts out his chapter by reminding us that this life is a testing ground. He then goes on to explain by a couple of compelling examples that “there are no shortcuts to greatness.” If we are to be found worthy to become joint heirs with the Savior, and to receive all that the Father has, we have some serious proving of ourselves to do. Shute writes “If we accept the fact that we are being tested when tribulation comes our way, even tribulation beyond our control, we might prepare ourselves for the test. And, from time to time, Heavenly Father may ask us for an ongoing report as to how we are meeting the challenges of mortal adversity. He might very well say to us as he said to Adam in the Garden of Eden, Adam, where art thou?” or in other words, “where art thou in terms of maintaining your faith in me as you face the difficulties of mortality?”

On this topic, Martin Buber, a German Hasidic philosopher/scholar wrote “God called out “Adam, where art thou?” He knew where Adam was, but He asked the question to see if Adam knew where he was. So it is with us as we face tribulation. He knows we are suffering and He knows how well we are handling it. The question, however, is intended to help us see where we are dealing with the challenges of life, and to remind us of our relationship with Him and that there is a purpose in meeting the challenges we may be facing.”

In asking the question, God doesn’t expect to learn something He does not know. By asking this question, God intends to produce in us a look inward, to see where we are in our relationship with Him, to see how we are doing in the brief time allotted us in mortality. What He intends to do by asking this question is to produce in Adam, and all of us, an effect which helps us see where we are in facing the responsibilities which He places upon us.