It happened before the Fruit
It has been an interesting week. My mind has gone in several different directions. To start with. I pondered a very short, but powerful verse. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" That is pretty straight forward. I love the cross reference that takes us to 1 Nephi 10:6. Because we have or will all sin, we are in a lost and fallen state, save we rely on our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
I was also asked to teach Sunday School this week, which was an interesting experience. Again, I am amazed at how well the thoughts and pondering of my life seem to coincide with one another. You see, we were to talk about ways to avoid being deceived in today's world. The subject matter for the lesson was great. I really enjoyed reading and pondering it. However, every time I did, I envisioned something that seemed to be completely unrelated to the lesson. I went with it anyway. For those of you were there, bear with me.
My mind kept coming back to that single tree in the Garden of Eden. As I mentally stared at it, I tried to understand what was so incredibly enticing about it. I just could not see it. The more I pondered the more I came to understand that it was not the tree, it was not the fruit, but it was the process that led up to the act of partaking.
I envisioned Adam and Eve, doing all that they had been commanded to do. However, each day, maybe several times in the day, they had to walk past that tree. It was always there. Maybe they sat and pondered what was so special about it that God commanded them not to partake. I wondered how many different ideas and notions were fed them by the serpent. How many of them did they believe? Was it the idea of becoming like God? Or was it the idea that they could possibly be better than God? Did they rationalize the "What Ifs" over and over again in their minds? What were they led to believe life would be like if they did partake? Were they told that they were stronger and more capable than what God gave them credit for being? Did the serpent try to get them to doubt God? His will? His foresight? His being?
I think this was more of what "The Fall" was all about, the act of doing so was just the sign of committed disobedience to God's command. The Fall was all about the process leading up to the act.
So, what do we learn?
I am sure we can learn a great deal. In fact, I continue to learn today. I wonder if the aftermath of partaking was anything like what they envisioned? Did they have the slightest clue what would happen? How much did the serpent truly deceive them?
What we do know? After they partook, they spent every moment trying to get back in the good graces of God. What they lost was so such a greater value than what they had gained. Additional, when they were cast out or escorted out of the Garden, it was true that they did not have the tree there in front of them to remind them, it was actually internalized. They process, the Natural Man, had become part of them. They had consumed the seed. It was now a part of their nature. And every day, they did not walk past it, but carried the same battle on with in them. What did I ponder last week? Mosiah 3:19. The battle to overcome the Natural Man happens within us every day.
How do we overcome the beast? In my pondering I came across D&C 93:1.
-Forsake the sin - the tendency to go against the will of God
-Come unto me(Christ) - call upon the powers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ EVERY DAY
-Call on His name - prayer, continual prayer
-Obey His voice - listen to the promptings, follow them, heed them, whether they be His or through one He has called and chosen, Prophet, President, Bishop, Father, or such
-Keep the commandments - live the Gospel of Christ.
These are they who shall see His face and know that He is.
There are a few of my thoughts. I hope you are able to hear the thoughts He has for you as well.
On with the week:
I have been in and out. I was invited to C-Town to attend a training that was being piloted. It was a good meeting. It was the first time I had been really out and about since the surgery. I did OK for the most part. I learned some of my limits.
The Queen followed the routine. Work, plan, craft, read, sleep- repeat. We did get out and about on Tuesday and enjoyed an incredible Garlic Burger. It was good to visit co-workers and get out of the house. We will look for more opportunities to do the same.
The Professor continues planning for the year to come. She is a little overwhelmed with the prospects of moving to a new classroom. There is so much she needs to do. Over the weekend, she enjoyed a wonderful hike. We hope she is able to see more of them.
Tall Man made it through Hell week and started a new show. We were hoping to hear something about it this weekend, but it did not happen. We will see if we can get an update in next few days on how life is in their court.
Puddin wrapped up the exterminator gig and is starting another. He and Lady Hawkins did a major photo shoot. It looked like fun. We are excited to see more.
I received a text from Songbird, so we know she is alive. Someday we will get a more complete update on the adventures of the summer.
Now we are moving on to another week of the unknown. We hope all are safe and wise in all they do.
Cheerios.
I was also asked to teach Sunday School this week, which was an interesting experience. Again, I am amazed at how well the thoughts and pondering of my life seem to coincide with one another. You see, we were to talk about ways to avoid being deceived in today's world. The subject matter for the lesson was great. I really enjoyed reading and pondering it. However, every time I did, I envisioned something that seemed to be completely unrelated to the lesson. I went with it anyway. For those of you were there, bear with me.
My mind kept coming back to that single tree in the Garden of Eden. As I mentally stared at it, I tried to understand what was so incredibly enticing about it. I just could not see it. The more I pondered the more I came to understand that it was not the tree, it was not the fruit, but it was the process that led up to the act of partaking.
I envisioned Adam and Eve, doing all that they had been commanded to do. However, each day, maybe several times in the day, they had to walk past that tree. It was always there. Maybe they sat and pondered what was so special about it that God commanded them not to partake. I wondered how many different ideas and notions were fed them by the serpent. How many of them did they believe? Was it the idea of becoming like God? Or was it the idea that they could possibly be better than God? Did they rationalize the "What Ifs" over and over again in their minds? What were they led to believe life would be like if they did partake? Were they told that they were stronger and more capable than what God gave them credit for being? Did the serpent try to get them to doubt God? His will? His foresight? His being?
I think this was more of what "The Fall" was all about, the act of doing so was just the sign of committed disobedience to God's command. The Fall was all about the process leading up to the act.
So, what do we learn?
I am sure we can learn a great deal. In fact, I continue to learn today. I wonder if the aftermath of partaking was anything like what they envisioned? Did they have the slightest clue what would happen? How much did the serpent truly deceive them?
What we do know? After they partook, they spent every moment trying to get back in the good graces of God. What they lost was so such a greater value than what they had gained. Additional, when they were cast out or escorted out of the Garden, it was true that they did not have the tree there in front of them to remind them, it was actually internalized. They process, the Natural Man, had become part of them. They had consumed the seed. It was now a part of their nature. And every day, they did not walk past it, but carried the same battle on with in them. What did I ponder last week? Mosiah 3:19. The battle to overcome the Natural Man happens within us every day.
How do we overcome the beast? In my pondering I came across D&C 93:1.
-Forsake the sin - the tendency to go against the will of God
-Come unto me(Christ) - call upon the powers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ EVERY DAY
-Call on His name - prayer, continual prayer
-Obey His voice - listen to the promptings, follow them, heed them, whether they be His or through one He has called and chosen, Prophet, President, Bishop, Father, or such
-Keep the commandments - live the Gospel of Christ.
These are they who shall see His face and know that He is.
There are a few of my thoughts. I hope you are able to hear the thoughts He has for you as well.
On with the week:
I have been in and out. I was invited to C-Town to attend a training that was being piloted. It was a good meeting. It was the first time I had been really out and about since the surgery. I did OK for the most part. I learned some of my limits.
The Queen followed the routine. Work, plan, craft, read, sleep- repeat. We did get out and about on Tuesday and enjoyed an incredible Garlic Burger. It was good to visit co-workers and get out of the house. We will look for more opportunities to do the same.
The Professor continues planning for the year to come. She is a little overwhelmed with the prospects of moving to a new classroom. There is so much she needs to do. Over the weekend, she enjoyed a wonderful hike. We hope she is able to see more of them.
Tall Man made it through Hell week and started a new show. We were hoping to hear something about it this weekend, but it did not happen. We will see if we can get an update in next few days on how life is in their court.
Puddin wrapped up the exterminator gig and is starting another. He and Lady Hawkins did a major photo shoot. It looked like fun. We are excited to see more.
I received a text from Songbird, so we know she is alive. Someday we will get a more complete update on the adventures of the summer.
Now we are moving on to another week of the unknown. We hope all are safe and wise in all they do.
Cheerios.
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