Appearances only seem to be

"'Being always transcends appearance - that which only seems to be'" (114).

Although this quote seems cliche, I think that Young has put into words what many people do not know how to phrase. From childhood we are told not to judge by appearances and that it's what's on the inside that matters, but no one ever explains why. This idea that "being" is more important than any appearance gives a good perspective. You can look at a person and imagine what they might be like because of the way they look, but this is exactly what Young (and the character of God) are advising against. It is much more important to find out who a person is than what they look like. God explains to Mack that appearances will fade away once you start to understand a person. This is the idea that appearances mean nothing.

The most interesting part about this idea for me is that God tells make that appearances "only seem to be." No matter what a person or a thing looks like, it has very little to do with who or what they actually are. Someone could have the appearance of being nice, but upon starting a conversation with them it is made obvious that they are stuck up and condescending. On the other hand, someone who looks stuck up and outright mean could be the nicest person you have ever met, and maybe the reason for their appearance is that they are shy. Because of this, your "being", who you actually are is so much more important than what your appearance is. Appearances are not a reflection of your personality or your life, they just are. This is why they are classified as only seeming to be, demonstrating that appearances are an illusion that give us a different idea of who a person is.