Oh Eve!

          Oh Eve! There had to be the moment. The instant when it hit you. The thing you'd done and what it meant to the world. 
         I picture you with your hands in Eden's dirt and sweat on your brow as you stand and lift your face into a breeze with a beautiful smile on your face. I picture the birds swooping around you singing, and I know that you love them. They settle around you and peck out the seeds you are planting, but you smile and let them because in the garden is perfect love. In the garden you  walk with God. You walk in the garden with Adam and God and know His Glory. You know it.
        So you toil and plant and reap the fruits of your labor because your purpose under heaven is for this hard and good and holy work. The breath of God is innately in your spirit and know its gift. You see and you know.
       In your human-ness did you get tired and sore from all the toiling? Was Adam doing his part to help you? Were you exhausted the day the serpent came with his temptation? Or was it all just too intoxicating?    
       Oh Eve...you didn't see it coming did you? 
       But then he was there. That temptingly life changing serpent. Was he beautiful? He must have been, but then wasn't everything glorious in Eden? What made you follow him? What made you listen to his terrible idea? Knowing God, I'm sure he was more than clear about eating the fruit off the tree of knowledge. I'm sure you had everything. What happened to make you open your mouth and bite. And where was Adam?
     How soon after the bite did you know what you had done?  Was it after you swallowed the precious fruit? I know you must've wanted to take it all back. To spit the fruit out in the face of the snake and say, "No! No! No!" 

     But it was too late and you knew it. What  happened in the moments when you realized what you'd done. Did you scream at the serpent? Did you call for Adam? I'm sure you knew God would be there soon. 

      I picture you now outside the garden gate lying on the ground crying out to God with the deepest of wailing. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" You say and beg for another chance.

     But you didn't get one and I'm sorry for that because God had to be God and you had to be Eve. You had to be Eve because God chose you. He chose you.

      I wonder how long you laid there waiting for God to change his mind? Begging him too. And when you finally picked yourself up was Adam waiting or did you find yourself alone? How many times did you stop and turn back for one more deep glance of hope wanting to see God and hear him say, "Come back Eve! Come home!"

     And then you turned one last time and simply couldn't see your Garden anymore.
     Oh my beautiful Eve! What a story you've given us. 
      But I see you once again with your hands in the dirt and sweat on your brow as you stand and put your face into the breeze while birds and Angels swoop and sing. And this most glorious garden is full of students of Eden who watch and learn to toil and plant and reap from the first master gardener. It is full of God and love and eyes that see and spirits that know.
     And one day, Eve, I'll walk into your eternal garden. And you wont be surprised because you'll know I'm on my way. And your garden of fragrant sweet peas with nests of baby birds and the purple flowers of artichokes will fill my heart with love. But you already know that. 

     I'm sorry it had to be you Eve, because it could have been me. 

     When I get there, expect a hug. It's going to be a big one.