I really enjoyed reading Donald Miller's chapter 'Naked' where he reflects on Adam and Eve, in his book 'Searching For God Knows What'. One of his thoughts was that Adam might have taken about one hundred years to name all the species that God brought to him, and all the while he was alone, without Eve, who God had not yet created.
I think I like it for several reasons. Firstly, I love the idea that this perfect, unfallen world was around for a bit before everything went wrong in Genesis 3. When you read the first three chapters of Genesis it sounds like it was all over in a flash. Perfect ...blink... and we threw it all away. But we don't know how long that period of perfection might have lasted. The Bible has a habit of giving us the bare minimum amount of information.
Just the idea that things were perfect in the Garden of Eden for more than five minutes definitely appeals. I'm glad creation, as it was meant to be, was enjoyed by someone for a good few years.
Secondly, I also like the idea that naming all those animals could have been real hard work. A hundred years... that's more than our whole life. Adam was the original David Attenborough, and I bet the work was satisfying.
And finally, I like the idea that when everything was perfect, Adam was still lonely and needed Eve. Even though he had a perfect companionship with God himself. Most men need a wife, no matter how many friends they've got, and even with a perfect relationship with God the Father.
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD."
Proverbs 18:22
Saturday 22 October 2011
Reflections on Eden
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In the Fall (upcoming season, not sinful doom of humanity), you should get a copy of Leonard, the Lonely Astronaut when it becomes available for purchase. It's a musically excellent album that explores themes of marriage, selfishness, and desperation from a rather unique standpoint -- and one song in particular, called "It Was Not Good For Man to Be Alone" just blows me away in its imagining of Adam's introduction to -- literally -- his perfect mate.
ReplyDeleteAlso, hi there, and thanks for the blog (and your encouragement toward thoughtful organization).