The Account of Eve

She loved the way it felt. The way it tingled her feet with every step, the way it stood up tall and firm, and yet was flexible and bent when she walked in it. This thing he had called… grass. Beautiful, green, feet tingling grass. It was marvelous. And the best part, was that it was just the beginning, one of a million wonders to be found in this glorious new world: “Eden…” She whispered.

The 4 day old sun shone with a brilliance that could steal one’s breath. Warm rays rained down onto Eve’s Strawberry Blonde hair, down her neck, and around every curve of her slender body. The light clothed her. It was all that she wore, all that she needed to wear and she wore it well; no shame, no pride… Only a joy and contentment which seemed to grow with every footstep, every experience. It was as if with each breath she felt more alive. Perhaps it was because of what he had told her about God breathing into them. Or perhaps it was the smell of this place. The smell. Wildflowers… fruits… all shapes and sizes, roses, and lilies, bellsies, and the leaves of the Tendrilon trees, oh…. The aromas they were everywhere. But there was something more… something which lingered in the air. It was the smell of life. Everywhere. Pure, sweet, life. She could hear it as well as she could smell it, She could see it as well as she could hear it… and she could feel it… oh, she could feel.

Yes, this place overwhelmed the senses with it. But of all the living things she had seen and experienced in the past two days, there was nothing that even came close to being as wonderful as him. God had told her that she was made from him and for him. And the very idea of this thrilled her. Adam. His name sent chills throughout her body. He was so beautiful. She allowed her thoughts to wander to the first time he had spoken to her. The look in his eyes, like he had just found the treasure he had been searching for all of his life.“You… you are the one I have been searching for.” He said trembling. “Made from my bones and made from the same flesh I live in, you are in every way a perfect match for me. I will call you woman, for you were made from man.” Some how when he said those words, she knew that she belonged to him, and he to her. “Adam” she whispered. Her lips curved upwards as she reveled in the memory.

Eve began to walk through the garden, thinking about everything she had learned in the time since her own creation. Raking her fingers through her hair, she looked up towards the heavens. How could he think of all of this? The creativity of her father was beyond words. Of all the knowledge she had gained, there were a few things which she had known implicitly – one was her desire to belong to Adam, oh adam. but that was only second to the deeper, most natural knowledge that she possessed: That God was her father, that he was good, and that her partnering with Adam was a partnership with a purpose: to worship and obey and enjoy their wonderful creator, and all that he created.

Suddenly her thoughts shifted. There, at the nape of her neck, she felt warm breath flow rhythmically across her soft skin. Her bottom lip curled under her top teeth as the corners of her mouth moved into a coy smile. Her eyelids slowly plummeted as she took in the warm sensations of Adam’s presence. Then her eyes grew wide. He had found her! She had been so wrapped up in thinking about the way the grass felt on her feet, and the sounds and smells and wonders of this place, that she had forgot all about the game they were playing!

She quickly moved to run but was no match for Adam’s muscular arms. In one swift motion he clasped her waist and brought her back in close. They laughed as he lifted and spun her around. His eyes, oh his eyes. He placed her gently back on her feet, and giggling she pushed away from him and began to run once again, not enough to give him a real challenge in catching her, but just enough to be playful. At one point she stopped, turned, and squared off to him.“okay now, cover your eyes my love…” she said wryly. Adam slowly brought his hands to his face, all the while never taking his eyes off of her, nor allowing his smile fade. She knew he would only cover them for moment, so she quickly darted for the first tree she could find. Putting her hand over her own mouth in an attempt to silence her laughter, she leaned her back against the tree, waiting. Waiting. “Eve….” A voice said. But the voice which called to her was not that of Adam’s, for she knew his voice well. It was another, coming from the tree not 20 feet to her left. As she surveyed the scene with curiosity, she saw that somehow, in the midst of their playing they had wondered to the center of the garden, and their before her was the forbidden tree. The voice called out again “did he really say…” It trailed off. It almost seemed to be coming from the tree itself… her eyes narrowed with wonder, and she felt herself being drawn towards the mystery.

A few paces later and she was standing their amidst the huge sprouting limbs. The tree was certainly different than the others. A different shape, different texture. A different feeling when she neared it. She watched as the creature moved from one branch to another, until it was positioned right in front of her. “What did you say…” she asked inquisitively? “I said, did God really say to you, you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” 3 things took root in her mind. One was the awareness of warm breath on her right shoulder – Adam had found her. The second was a gnawing curiosity as to why this creature did not know what God had said. For all creatures in the Garden heard God when he spoke. 3rd was an uneasy feeling which she had never experienced before. Something was off. Something was wrong, very wrong… But she couldn’t seem to pull herself away… she wanted to know. With a slight quiver in her voice she asserted: “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.” The serpent laughed. But it was not a laugh like hers and Adam’s from just a few moments earlier. It was a different kind of laugh, forced an fake, completely absent of joy. She brushed a long tendril of air from her face and placed it behind her ear. Then the serpent spoke again. “You will surely not die, For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing Good and Evil.”

And with those words, everything changed. It was the idea that began to infect her. Never before had she known any of God’s creation to question Him on anything. And yet there it was, out it the open. At first she was horrified at the notion. She wanted to scream and run to God and tell him what this thing had said about him. But something caught her eye which made her stay. She looked at the tree and it’s yellowish gold fruit. It did look delicious. She now noticed the sweet scent that was emanating from the luscious meldalions. She took a deep breath. Thoughts poured into her mind concerning what the serpent had said. it Couldn’t it be true could it? Maybe God isn’t what I thought he was? The fruit looks good does it not? Her pulse began to quicken. And what could it hurt to gain knowledge? Are we not supposed to grow? Why would he keep something like this from us? He never gave us a reason. Maybe it is true. Maybe he wants to keep it all to himself… Maybe…

Her slender fingers reached up and wrapped around the cool flesh of the fruit which was dangling only inches from her face. With a slight snap, the branch flicked upwards as she plucked the piece from its leafy surroundings. One breath later she was sinking into the fruit, juices flowing over her tastebuds. It was… delicious. While still reveling in the sweet nectar of this forbidden treasure, she turned and held out the piece she had just sampled. Adam, taking it from her, ate. Their they both stood, eyes locked, chewing away their final moments in paradise.

Their eyes snapped open wide. Gaining the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They thought it would feel like growing – like a wealth of knowledge and wisdom being given to you, added to you. Instead, it felt like something being stripped from you. it felt like being stripped naked in front of everyone at your school, and having all your deepest secrets announced over the pa system, while everyone listened, looked, pointed, and laughed. This was Shame. The desperate need to cover themselves pumped through their veins. Each of them tried to hide their bodies with their hands… but the feeling was still there. They turned away from each other as a second attempt. Still the shame prevailed. Adam was the first to see the leaves in front of him, and make the connection. In what can only be described as sewing, he wove a garment for himself out of the leaves. Eve soon did the same. It wasn’t great. But it worked for the moment in subduing the shame. But shame was quickly replaced by a new, even more intense emotion. Fear. Eve looked over at Adam who was standing 10 feet from her, clinging to a tree. The look on his face told her that he was feeling this new sensation just as much as she was. She watched as he flinched at the sound. It was the sound of God. He was in the garden. He was coming.

A strong, valiant voice flowed through the winds… Where are you? it said. Adam began to visibly shake. He knew that the words were pointed at him. A question that seemed more like a statement. From the sound of it, Adam could tell God was right on the other side of this tree, looking at him through the massive trunk. As much as he wanted to, it dawned on him – there was no hiding from God. Slowly, he stuck his head out from behind the tree. God was staring right at him. Adam’s voice came hesitantily.