O RIGINAL Series: Episode 01
An unhappy woman wondering why she made that mistake/Credit/Liza Summer
Free Will
We are in the Garden of
Eden. The main characters in the garden are Adam, and Eve. They are busy at
work. Adam is perhaps looking at how everything is flourishing in the garden.
And Eve on the other hand, is touring the garden. She is looking at different
trees, and fruits on the other side. While engaged in different activities,
they are also having a conversation. So, Eve continues with her tour around the
Garden, while Adam continues with his work on the other side. Eve is excited,
and she just want to know how the whole garden is coming along. And she
continues exploring. They both enjoy doing different activities in the garden.
So Adam is not worried that Eve is moving deeper in the Garden. Maybe, while in
the process of moving around, she was collecting food that they will eat for
dinner, or even breakfast. Perhaps, this is what she does every day. However, unaware
to Adam and Eve is a third party who is watching.
The third party wants to
approach. He is looking for a conversation. He wants to talk about the tree in
the middle of the garden. But he is also smart. The snake has an angle. An
angle that Adam, and Eve might not have, or may have not thought about. He wants to
discuss the tree in the middle, which has been referred to as the ‘Tree of
Life.’ The snake is aware that Adam, and Eve know about it. However, he still
wants to have a conversation. He has identified his victim. The victim is
isolated. And this provides him an opportunity to speak his mind freely as he
had planned. And it is not just the conversation alone he wants. He is smart. He
also wants to lay a trick. He is playing games. He has a hypothesis, which
perhaps state that Adam, and Eve are weak. They just pretend to follow
instructions, or respect God. They only behave so because no one has tested
their loyalty. So the snake must do something about it. He wants to see if, he
can prove the hypothesis right. So the snake must try.
The snake has identified
a victim, and he is ready. In fact, everything that he needs is within reach.
The tree of life is just there. And Eve is one of the servants that God trusts
to do the right thing. The snake has all the key requirements to his experiment.
He can’t wait to unmask these people. Now that Eve is here, the conversation
must begin. The snake seeks to inquire why Adam, and Eve cannot eat from that
tree. Eve responds by telling him that it is prohibited. Smart as the serpent
is, wants to know why it is prohibited. He has found a great opportunity to
introduce the angle. That maybe, God is afraid Adam, and Eve will be like Him.
This makes Eve curious. The snake has already introduced an element of doubt.
He has won. Eve thinks that the snake could be right. The grand objective of
this scheme was to convince Eve to pick a fruit from the tree of life, and taste
it. The snake knew that once it gets to Eve, it will also get to Adam. The
angle worked (Catch the full story in Genesis 3).
From this story, we have
a small peak at the decision making process of Adam and Eve. They are
independent human beings. Eve makes her own decisions and Adam makes his
decisions when it comes to what they do in the garden. There is nothing wrong
there. However, the bigger picture is how as human beings allow our freedom to shape us. Eve had full knowledge of the tree of life. They both received specific instructions not to interfere with the tree in the middle. Those instructions were very clear yet, Eve got confused by the snake. She fell so fast to the trap laid in front of her. The snake was just trying. It knew these were solid people. Loyal servants but still went on to interfere with them. And Eve started tripping. She picked the fruit. Tasted it and took some to her husband. And everything changed. Two people who were supposed to focus on their mission in the garden are no longer the administrators.
You need to understand that the snake did not accomplish this feat in one day. The snake must have been watching these two people. When someone plots to bring you down, he/she does not do it on a single day. He/she invests in the downfall. The individual takes time to understand you. The person studies you. All this is done to ensure that when he/she will be ready to roll the trap, the operation will be smooth. Someone is always watching your moves. That someone is
not a stranger. It is someone you know. People in your communities. Your best
friend or one of your family members. These people present the least harm. So you see no threats.
However, threats are always there. You only need to be realistic. You need to be objective. The least that Adam and Eve needed to do was question. Eve needed to
question why the snake was suddenly interested in the tree of life. And why the snake wanted her to get the fruit. Adam on the other hand, needed to question why he had to eat the
fruit considering he had not expressed any desire for food at that time.
The free will that we
possess as human beings is a powerful resource. It can give us the life we
want. It can also carry us away from mistakes. We just need to use it
correctly. But correctly is not as simple as, it sounds. People are careless.
They get lost very quickly, especially when they have so much resources around
them. Adam and Eve were well supplied. There was no hunger because they could
access anything they needed from the garden. Yet, they were caught flat footed.
Their mistakes represent human weaknesses. A human being can only do so much. A person can only focus so much. And as such, every time you drift away from the
focal point. You risk missing the point. That is why you need to be very
careful. The modern society does not have a Garden of Eden but you have your freewill. and it means everything in your life. How
are you using it?
The Presence of the ‘Other’
The people we often care
most about, are sometimes, our biggest liabilities. We value friendship,
sisterhood, brotherhood, unions, and great companies. This is part of being
normal human beings. However, do you ever pause and think of the cost that
comes with all these associations? Do you ever imagine that the sister you love
most could be your downfall? Friends, spouses, and every other person you care
about? The presence of the other can either build us or break us. You need to
be aware of that and take precautions. You love your friends so
much that you have allowed them to access you anytime. Other people are blind
spots, especially if, we love them so much. You just want to do anything for
them without questioning. It was a demonstration of love for Adam to eat the
fruit that Eve brought to him. It was also a demonstration of ignorance for
Adam and Eve to fall to the tricks of the snake. So choose how the
‘other’ shapes, and influences you. Is the other an obstacle to your vision, or
a blessing?
Idleness
I think I cannot
overemphasize the risks of idleness. They are deadly, painful, and very
regretful. You do not want to be that person who spent most of their time doing
nothing, or participating in matters that do not concern you. Idleness is a source
of evil and you need to recognize it, just like that. It will take you from
the right path to the wrong path. You cannot afford to be
an empty vessel. There is so much that you can do with your time. And that much
does not include collecting gossip from one end of the community to the other.
It involves you finding things that matter to you. Things as simple as, knowing
your values. Protecting your time. Not saying yes to everything or everyone. You need direction in your own life. You need to be in control. Be smart. There are so many things that can go wrong when you allow idleness
to dominate your life.
Third Parties
Third parties are
composed of so many things and people. In the Garden of Eden, it was a snake.
Today in our beautiful busy world, it could be that valuable friend or
partner. Member of the family or anyone. There are many enemies out there. The space you allow third parties to occupy in your life. The influences these third parties have on you could be the right ingredient. And you will be on your way to your first mistake. A mistake that could cost you everything. Look around you and be wise. Not everyone who laughs with you laughs with you. Evaluate your environment. Check out the people in your surrounding. It is your job to lead your life to the right path. Protect your life. Watch what you do every day with your time and spaces. There was nothing wrong with Eve having a
conversation with the snake. The only wrong thing she did was to allow the
snake to influence her decisions and behavior. Know your values. Sometimes knowing you is the only thing that will save you from a possible catastrophe. The person misleading you actually wants to see you fall to prove a point. Don't be an experiment for this person. Be careful.
Comparison
It is important to
understand as early as now that you can only be who you were created to be.
Your experience, personality, and history makes you who you are. We are all
unique from each other based on those three factors. You can admire other
people. You can learn from other people. You can be inspired by other people.
However, acting like them or wanting to be them. Will not make you them.
Embrace yourself and learn your story. Develop your mind to give you what you
want. Feed your character to help you grow. The snake knew very clearly that no one could be like God. Even Eve knew that she could not act like God.
She did not have the power and knowledge that God has. You too do not have the
power and knowledge that the person you are competing with has. Do not misdirect
your energy in wrong competitions. Society is full of people who are
competing with each other every day. Learn the truth. Only walk in your path and allow the experience of covering every step influence you. The person you
could be competing with has walked his or her journey. You, walk yours. You have
everything you need to succeed. Perhaps what is only missing is a vision. Find
one and you will be good.
Ask Questions
Adam was busy on the
other side of the garden working. He did not need food. He needed to focus on
issues that were right in front of him. Yet, when Eve came back from her short
tours with a fruit. He just ate it without questioning. He had a right to make
a few inquiries. Why was Eve giving him a fruit in the middle of work? Why was
the snake following Eve instead of being with other creatures? What was Eve
doing at the tree of life when the instructions were clear? How could Eve
allow a creature that she was supposed to guide and subdue mislead her like
that? There were many things that Adam could have done. And there are many things
that you can also do now to avoid mistakes. Question those relationships,
friendships, partnerships, and transactions. And always remember that you are a normal human being. You can fall anytime. The ingredient is simple. Just become careless. The enemy is always waiting for the right moment. Feed your character. Think all the time. See people and things as they are. Be realistic with everything. Lest you fall.
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