Two Conversations
I
God and Adam were sitting beside a stream in a very beautiful place.
“It just seems like an awfully severe punishment, is what I’m saying,” said Adam.
“Did you take the time to walk through the garden and see what was available to you?”
asked God.
“Of course—this place is very nice, and Eve and I saw several trees, but only one had
the delicious-looking red fruit.”
“And did you and Eve remember what I told you about the tree with the red fruit?”
“Uh, yes, but we were both quite hungry after we—”
“Yes, yes, I know, no details, please. But what you did was pleasurable?”
“Very much so. We felt—is that a word yet?—felt? It’s hard to describe but it felt very
good.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear you say that, but it will never feel that way again.”
“What?! Why?”
“Don’t you know why?” said God.
Adam thought for a moment. “Because we ate the red fruit? I only took a bite because
Eve did— what could be the harm?”
“You don’t even know? You don’t remember our conversation? It was a fairly critical
one.”
“Critical?”
“Important. It was the one thing I asked you not to do.”
Adam paused. “You’re right. What can I do to make up for it?”
“Leave.”
“Leave? And go where?”
God only knows.
II
But God had gone, and so had the beautiful garden, and now two angels with flaming
swords were pointing the way toward a huge barren desert.
“You and your apple. You just had to offer it to me right after we—”
“Oh my god, don’t throw that in my face—”
And so another part of their punishment began. Man and woman would never again
live in the same kind of harmony they had found in the garden.
Then another angel, Raphael, more peaceable and appointed by God to be a friend to
man, suddenly appeared at the couples’ side.
“I’m sorry for your situation,” said Raphael, “but you must know you brought it on
yourselves.”
“Is there any way we can have a second chance?” asked Adam.
“You lose the sight of God when you don’t do what He asks,” said Raphael, “and you
won’t see Him again until the final judgment day, and maybe not even then.”
“What does that mean?
“If you’re not right with God when your end comes, you just cease to exist. No more
you. No more anything.”
“ How do we get right with God again?”
“You will begin asking His forgiveness every day – this will be called prayer – and you
will attempt to do good in a world that often resists the attempt. Life will be a struggle, a
struggle often rewarded but still a struggle.”
“It doesn’t sound good.”
“It isn’t. You left eternal good behind. But God is an all-merciful God, and I’m sure that
with much effort on your part, and greater effort from all of your descendants, you will be
able to achieve a modest semblance of the peace and harmony you knew before you
disobeyed. But I must tell you, you have a great challenge before you. Peace and
harmony, so easily found in the Garden, will prove to be very elusive in your new world.
“What must we do to see God again?”
“Ah, yes,” said Raphael. “A very good question. Now, and for the next thousands of
years, that will be the critical conversation.z
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