The language of Eden is hope, love, connection, trust, joy, kindness, enjoyment. But it’s not just about being nicey-nicey to each other, it’s up for big tasks. It’s ready for science and math; naming all of the animals is no small endeavor, though we’ve reduced it too often to the stuff of children’s books.
On this side of the fall, the language of Eden Lost is fear, doubt, hurt, disappointment, betrayal, cheap thrills. It distracts us from how far off the mark we’ve gotten.
Submitted by Kristi Magi
Happy Mind Resort …this way! Or is it? It’s an all too common story that we’ve gotten ourselves turned around, going in the wrong direction. Whether with our defensive responsive to one another, a go-to number for the pain, or blatant sin. We’ve all been there, done that.
As this sign so aptly represents, it’s all upside down.
But it doesn’t have to be. Lent is the time for reflecting. A spiritual gut check when we inventory where we see God at work, where we hear a “well done” or a “let’s look at how that might have been handled differently,” where we are reminded, it won’t always be like this. And we see glimpses of Eden Regained.
Happy Mind Resort … this way. I don’t believe that heaven is going to be one big resort in the sky. That sounds boring and God is anything but boring. Happy? YES. Will we use our minds? Yes, yes, yes. I try to picture what books will be like in heaven, will there still be subplots that have pain?
We won’t be turned around. We won’t be tongue lashing each other. We won’t use our words like weapons.
Do I hear an amen?!
Q4U: Where have your interactions gotten turned around? Where can you get back to your true native language?
Last week i was reminded that my identity doesn’t come from having or lacking the perfect course or the perfect lesson plans. Actually, i re-read your “are you a perfectionist or excellentist” post which was such a gut check for me. More like a punch in the face… but yes. How easy it is to get turned around. Thanks to Kristi for sharing this hilarious sign, and for your thought-provoking post.
And to you for commenting :) … I often wonder if these are helpful to anyone but me (and even if the answer is NO, they still are helpful to me :)) And no, your identity doesn’t come from being perfect. I think this will be on my tomb stone: aim high, settle for less :)
Unfortunately it’s not only our relationship with each other that gets turned around at times. The language of Eden Lost interferes with our communication with our Father as well. We attribute the attitudes and tones of Eden Lost to how the Father deals with us. Our sin sick minds twist His words and somehow love becomes fear and hope become doubt. I can’t wait until I can, without the distortion of this world, hear Him speak love, healing, peace, and truth.
So true!
I’ve found that I bought into the deception that Eve did. The serpent said, “…be like God, knowing …” And Eve said to herself, this tree is good for … gaining wisdom. I find that I have been chasing and reveling in the accumulation of knowledge, thinking that I’m getting wisdom. The serpent didnt say she’d get wisdom, only that she’d be like God in knowing, and that knowing would be in the area of good and evil. It was Eve who expanded “like God” to include wisdom, tho she didnt invite God into the conversation to do the clarifying BEFORE the decision. Neither did I. But praise his ever-loving heart, he’s still available.
Debbie, thanks for the “peek behind the curtain” as to how this plays out in our lives!