I am considered, by most, to be a fairly well traveled individual. As a result, I have many friends and acquaintances from a variety of cultures, creeds, and religions. Most are Christian, some are Jewish, the balance is comprised of Muslims, Wiccans, and Pagans of various ideologies, along with fairly large sprinkling of atheists mixed in. These people are from the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and the Far East but regardless of where they’re from or what religion they follow, they all have one thing in common. They all are familiar with the story of how Adam & Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. Without dispute, it is believed to be a well told tale and, rightly so because like all ancient stories, whether completely true or embellished by the author and the passage of time, it is meant to teach universal life lessons which we each need to know.
The ancient narrative, like most, uses symbolism to reflect the truths in a very subtle manner, sometimes too subtle in my opinion. Recall how in the story Eve seemed to be the culprit who corrupted poor Adam; when in essence it was most likely written in that manner to depict the ease of which we can be swayed, especially by those we trust and love. In the description of the event, it is more about making individual choices verses which party was at fault.
According to the account, Adam and Eve each made their own decision to ignore the direct command from God, “You can eat from any tree in the garden, except the fruit from that tree.” Regardless of their individual rationales, the primary reason was the same. We can each apply the lessons taught to us by the timeless decisions of Adam & Eve to eat the fruit of God’s Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Everyone has been confronted by our own inability to deny the one and only eternal flaw inherent of the human race; the flaw born from God’s gift of free will; Selfishness.
The author was brilliant in the use of the tree as a symbol of strength and rigidness. In the story the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil brings forth fruit, when consumed, opened a selfish nature, not present in God’s original creation. From that moment one, mankind was burdened with a duality of using God’s gift of Free Will for either good or evil. Through this gift or curse, we are allowed to freely choose between right or wrong. Once we are swayed one way or another by outside sources, the stand that we take can be firmly planted by our own selfish desires. Even though we know it might be a stupid or wrong decision, we root ourselves firmly against any opposition that counters our belief.
What makes this story even more special is the further reinforcement of its teaching by another well documented story which happens three thousand years later and come to be known as, “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. A man named Jesus is regarded as a fruit from the very same Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because of His human birth. However, in contrast to the selfish act of disobedience shown by Adam and Eve; God / Jesus / the New Adam freely gave us this precious fruit to eat. In the story of His Passion, He directly tells us of His selfless, sacrificial intent, “Take and eat, for this is my body. It will be given up for you.” Through this completely human yet selfless decision, we are shown proof that all mankind has the ability to act in a wise and selfless manner, even in the most difficult and horrific situations.
Given His amazing and altruistic examples; what excuse do we have for the selfish acts and egotistical decisions that continue to plague our daily lives?
If this is my last post, I want all to know there was only one purpose for all that I have written; to have made a positive difference in the lives of others.
Anthony “Tony” Boquet, the author of “The Bloodline of Wisdom, The Awakening of a Modern Solutionary”