[Soil & Land - VI]
This will be my last reflection on the Garden of Eden (until I write a book about it, of course).
The Garden of Eden is not the name of a place, per se, but it is still the name of a literal reality. I’m not intending to reduce the importance of it as the epicenter of the creation story for several religious traditions. But when it firmly holds a place in our understanding of history it's reduced to geography, as opposed to what it was intended for: meaning making and a deep understanding of the human condition. I’m not suggesting that the Garden of Eden is untrue; I’m saying that it’s more than true—it’s *universally true* and always becoming *more true* the further we find ourselves within it.
Here’s an example of what I mean.
If we look at the story of the Garden of Eden, we find a piece of land that is crafted for human flourishing. A special mandate is given to humanity to care for the land and animals, a mandate that stretches their sense of individuation (you must care for others!) and broadens their imagination of health (community wellbeing is as important as your hunger!). Eventually they're faced with a moral dilemma, make choices that have unavoidable consequences, and enter into new levels of responsibility and challenge.
Did this all factually occur? Honestly, that’s not even an interesting question. *More true* than whether it happened to Adam and Eve is that it happens to all of us! It’s the process of moral maturing we must all go through.
The problem is that many of us will debate the facts of our religious heritage and never enter the more difficult journey of learning to grow up and leave “home,” give of ourselves to others, tend to the “gardens” around us, make hard decision, willfully nurture creation, own the consequences of our actions, prioritize our communities, and avoid blaming everyone else for our immaturity.
I told you the Garden of Eden is more than true!
