With that, another emotion flooded his soul, “remorse”, “regret”. His heart tightened as tears tried to well up, yet were choked back by a numbness that encompassed his whole body. His mind was ringing with questions, questions without answers. And yet they all came down to one question, “Why?”. He had always passed the tree without even a desire to touch the forbidden fruit. Then it returned to him. The explanation had flowed smoothly and enticingly from her lips. However, it was hardly convincing. No, it was the look. Standing there, looking into her eyes, he perceived that there was a profound secret she knew and was offering him. He saw what appeared to be an ancient wisdom. Her poise, her lips, her outstretched hand all conveyed the sense of her new found attainment. His protests jumbled in meaningless babble. Deep inside he understood that, if he did not partake he would be forever separated from the one he loved and treasured. What else did he have in this garden, besides her? No sooner had a concern for her arose than another desire commanded his attention. She had been his equal in all things and yet now she had attained a position of superiority. He felt simplistic, subjugated before her knowledge. He saw that this attainment was also now within his grasp as it was now resting in hers. Impulsively he grabbed, knowing full well the reality of the consequences.

Guilt, regret, remorse, another feeling quickly followed. An urge to run, to flee, but from what, from whom? Fear gripped his heart as the security and peace of mind that he had once had was quickly a fading memory. The words “you shall surely die” rang in his ear as the reverberation of a funeral bell. Naked and scared, he stood trembling in the warm tropical air of the garden. He dared not lift his gaze lest his eyes meet hers. Frantic, he scans the landscape for cover–anything to relieve his anxiety.

Entering the thick foliage, he is cognizant of her presence as she follows him deeper into the brush. Why won’t she leave him alone? He turns to see her, a miserable reflection of his own state. Her contorted facial features were far removed from the soft lines that had once so enraptured him. No words are passed as pangs of sympathy well up in his heart. He had a desire to make it better, yet knew that what they had done had been irrevocable. He felt totally helpless. Silently they sat, stitching and weaving together what suitable leaves they could find. The work was frustrating and tedious and the results were far from satisfactory.

Adam had a strong desire to sleep in hopes of awakening from this night mare. His thoughts were shattered as they heard the Lord walking through the garden. They dared not speak and hoped that the Lord would just walk by. However, the Lord spoke. His voice resounded with authority commanding full obedience. The will to resist melted into submission, as Adam stepped out with his wife to confront the inevitable. The feelings of guilt, regret and fear multiplied in the presence of the Lord’s holy light. Doom and despair overwhelmed him. The only thread of hope hung on the note of sorrow and love contained within the voice of the Lord as the ominous judgments were pronounced.

Condemned and forlorn, they left the garden. His shame-filled soul grasped for some ray of hope. His mind continually returned to the words “her seed”. The saying was enigmatic and he could little guess the significance of its secrets. However, instinctively he understood that somewhere in these words hung the hope of all mankind. The hope gave him strength as he gently put his arm around Eve. They walked on to face the strange new world before them. It wouldn’t be easy, but somehow God would make a way. Paradise was lost, yet faith was born.

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He continues to walk through the garden, careful to name every creature that comes within his field of vision. It was an interesting job, endued with purpose. He liked to hear the new sounds roll off his tongue. Each name was unique and meaningful. He felt a sense of duty and pride in his accomplishment as he named each creature. Yet, slowly an emptiness of that pride came over him. The sound of his own voice began to satisfy him less and less. It was as though the sound was meant to be shared. The animals each in turn responded to his voice, but none were able to grasp the significance. Through it all, there was a growing sense of his loneliness, as he noticed that each creature had a companion comparable, yet not identical.

Thirsty, he returned to the pool of water. Before drinking, he again desires to admire his reflection. He grinned but it slowly faded away. Yes, he was handsome but what did it matter? Who would even notice him? He realized a reflection is a poor companion in deed. He quickly thrusts his hand into the water, more out of a need to disrupt his sad thoughts than out of thirst. Tired of exploring his new world and with a desire to forget his somber feelings, he lies on a fresh carpet of grass and enters a deep sleep of dreams.

As he enters his world of dreams, he meets a friend. Together, they walk along throughout the garden enjoying each individual flower tending as they go. They run across the meadows, climb some trees and play in the water. The joy he feels plays across his face as he sleeps. But his smile is not alone, for God also stands by smiling in His own way knowing the dream and its present fulfillment. Deep in sleep Adam feels no pain, yet senses as a rib is carefully removed from his body.

He continues to smile as he slowly begins his ascent from dream land. A smile only disrupted by the remembrance of the last conscience thought of loneliness. He would have desired to return to the land from whence he had just come, if it was not for the sense of another presence. Whatever it was, it was close enough for him to feel its breathing. Not sure what he should do, he remains still, trying to hide his wakefulness. But it was to no avail for the one present was little fooled by this tactic and as such a soft giggle escaped. To him, the giggle was more melodious than any of the song birds he had already named. With its sound, faded all the feelings of loneliness he had experienced and in its place returned the pleasant smile to his face. This came to the great delight of the beholder who responded with another soft giggle. With this, he opened his eyes wishing to see the source of this enchanting music. He could not believe what he saw. Gazing into his eyes were eyes just like his, but not quite his own. The smile that followed the movement of his smile was similar, but not quite the same. It was as though he was looking at his reflection, improved upon many times over. So similar, it was, yet so different. He was bewildered as to what intrigued him the most, the similarities or the differences.

As he looked, he began to raise himself up to get a better look. His recent dream flashes across his mind, but this far surpasses in idea and substance. It is undreamable yet real. New feelings of exhilaration filled his soul. Just as he had named the many other creatures, he understood that this one must have the greatest honor, being the fairest of all. He opened his mouth and declared, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Though many a creature he had named before, none responded with such pleasure and delight as this one, upon hearing her name. Adam felt satisfied. For him, at last, Paradise had real meaning. Paradise had someone to share it with. Paradise had truly become paradise.  Thomas Fleming Oct 11, 2007

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