The Two Trees (Pt 3)

A reposting from last year, Part 3. Meditations are intended to be read sequentially, from 1 to 33.

Part One
Part Two

(13 of 33) …

Again on the Hill …

“Fear God and all will be well.” There it is again — that thought. What does it mean to fear God? Why, how, is it that “all will be well?”

The man who brought us to the Hill has been gone for a long time. Perhaps it was all a dream? A hoax even? Maybe it would be better in the Garden. Had the man ever been to the Garden? Perhaps he led us the wrong way? Maybe he can be found in the Garden?

“No.”

He clearly said that he was on his way to the kingdom. He bid us come, did he not? What was his name? “Fear God and all will be well. Fear God and all will be well. Fear God and will be well ….”

“I fear that I am lost,” we say. There, off in the distance, is the Garden. So inviting. So familiar. We’ve spent so much time there, in the Garden. It looks like home.

It is home. “Leave your cross and receive your crown, your reward,” bids the creature.

So be it.

… it is so.

(14 of 33) …

In the Garden …

It is easier in the Garden. The Hill involves sacrifice. For love requires that one give up self for other. Joy necessitates suffering. Peace implies war. Patience is ultra-sacrificial. And kindness quite often makes us nauseous!

Our taste buds dance was we bite again into the fruit of pride.

Yes, we eat it for a remedy. We were a little queasy last eve after a bout with envy and greed. It seems that we just can’t get enough of the Garden. Now, here we sit partaking of the omnipotent medicine of pride.

From where we sit in the Garden we can see the weak and naked pilgrims ascend the Hill of Hell. Oh how our minds delight in hating them and their pitiful wasted lives. Wait’ll they get to the top and realize that death alone beckons and awaits them.

“He dies, you know!”

“He dies!”

Pride is abundant upon this Tree in the Garden.

(15 of 33) …

In the Wilderness …

“Who am I?”

Tears. It’s been long in coming — and still longer since last we cried. Once again we seemingly had it all in the Garden. Now all is lost. Again we were betrayed. It wasn’t the fault of the creature, or the environment of plenty. It was the others who chose to inhabit the oasis of the Garden. Damn them!

“Did they not know that ‘I am?’”

“I’ll show them!”

It was all to no avail — scheming and planning. They were too powerful. In fact, they’ve actually lived in the Garden a very long time. They KNOW more. They’ve not only eaten fruit, they’ve stockpiled it in their paradisal warehouses. They were too powerful. Had to leave … but, shall return.

(16 of 33) …

Again in the Wilderness …

“Don’t want to go to the Hill. Involves commitment.”

The Garden is much better. It requires nothing but your presence. The beautiful creature is a wonderful host. He is so smart, cunning, and encouraging. He makes us feel good, godlike.

We find the Hill generally depressing. “Except when there,” whispers our soul — but, we know better. What good is a soul? Does it feed you? Thrill you? Does the soul ever dance, sing, or laugh?

Doubt.

Doubting in the Wilderness. We’re tired. Our memory races toward the past. The man who claimed to be king. The sinful pleasures of the Garden. The bitter deeds brought on by the beautiful fruit. The dying man. The blood. The Tree. Which tree?

(17 of 33) …

Again in the Wilderness …

We are beginning to get accustomed to the Wilderness. It isn’t life. It isn’t death. It just is.

We can see the Garden; the fruits — Life?

We can see the Hill; the Tree, the man — Life?

The questions plague us … (till death do us part).

No. It is better to just stay in the Wilderness. Here there is no salvation or damnation. No Satan, sin, and death. No faith, hope, and charity. No day. No night. Neither naked or royally clothed. We are alone and at peace. The beautiful creature has journeyed with us into the Wilderness. All is well.

(18 of 33) …

Again in the Wilderness …

The beautiful creature is a wonderful guide, very intelligent. He has taught us that we can partake of heavenly fruit — even in the Wilderness. All we have to do is think. “Bring the fruit to mind.” In so doing, we conjure up fantasy. Lustful fantasy. We can build palaces of gold and silver, filled with riches, in our minds.

“Must we go back to the Garden?” we ask.

“No my child, you can have it all in the Wilderness.”

No longer alone in the Wilderness … thanks to the beautiful creature and the calf of gold.

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