Gen.3 The Morning of the Fall

The sun floated gently upon her face. A slight breeze stirred through the leaves of the giant maple nearby. Birds alternated between rich arias and full choral pieces. The wolf laid by her side. During the night no insects drilled or ripped into her creamy skin. No predators prowled the dark. There was not a shred of fear in her heart as she had layed down to sleep; and now, the freshness of dawn was calling to her. The notes of the symphony of Creation were all in tune. There was only one discordant note, one counterpoint, one insistent thought lurking in her mind. It had been there for days.

She rolled over from her deep green blanket of grass from which no allergy had ever irritated her skin, and opening her eyes, the love of her life was laying beside her. Regal of brow, powerful of body, kind of heart--fully devoted to her, Adam awoke.

Lying together, they gently rejoiced in the joy of comnpleteness. Their joy, given by the Father whom they adored. The lion they had named greeted the morning on a rock outcropping 25 feet away. The gazelle darted by as did the lumbering tapir, blissfully thriving in life. Their vividness radiant. The joy and exuberance of each animal shone from within. And every specie frolicked in the innocence of ignorance.

"Shall we talk more about it now," Adam asked. "Later," she whispered. In each mind, an unaccounted shadow hovered.

After arising, they took their customary walk. They stopped to pluck grapes, succulent and juicy. As they moved by the bluebbery patch, Mr. Bear pawed a hello. By the babbling brook their thirst was quenched and carrots, green peppers and dark lettuce were cleaned and feasted on. The artichoke, pineapple and lime were fresh on the vine and papya juice ran strong with mango.

They were near the center now. At every turn, their eyes beheld the wonders of creation. Deep canyons, towering pinnacles, snow capped mountains, alpine meadows, gentle lakes and deserts in full bloom were all laid side by side. Their hearts leapt in exulatation at the grandeur they never tired of.

But as their eyes turned forward, their steps halted, for once again, as they had every day, they came to the Tree. The one Tree. The Tree that had come to dominate their minds. The one that was stirring their wills and straining their serenity. The only tree the Father had told them they could not eat of. Their one boundary, their one limitation, their only prohibition.

They sat, they stared--------and the shadow grew.