Back to Eden
By April Terry (personal blog http://faithwarming.blogspot.com)
I did a message this ministry Sunday about getting back to the Garden of Eden. It was about being in constant communication with God, even when it comes to the small things. In a way, I got a direct illustration on what that might mean after our third service for our ministry. On the second row at the back, there was a gentleman frozen and unmoving. He wasn’t older like many of the seniors we meet so he probably had ALS or some other kind of disease that causes this. He stared straight ahead without any response. I never assume that
someone doesn’t understand because I don’t know for sure if they do, so when I stepped forward to greet him after the service, I stopped directly in front of him and stooped down to look in his eyes. I asked him how he was and not even an eyelid blinked, but he seemed to be looking at me, so I plodded forward to acknowledge him. I told him I understood that he couldn’t communicate, but I asked him if I could pray for him. Then, a tiny flicker of recognition and a slight move, barely perceptible, of the head told me it was okay.
I prayed out loud that God would be present with this man and that the man would feel God’s presence within his heart and mind. I asked God to relieve his suffering and to be with him one day at time for the time that he would have left. Finishing my prayer, I lifted my eyes and saw a tear coming out of his right eye. I knew I hadn’t seen it before, and I knew it wasn’t a fluke. I knew that inside that frozen body, cried out a man who wanted to be heard and listened to. It’s not fair to be locked inside of a broken body.
In a way, today’s message of getting back to Eden was so perfect. The message was about what it might have been like before man’s fall when God was present with Adam and Eve in the garden. Would God have been always present, always available? What would that feel like to live our lives in that kind of relationship with the One who created us? I try to think of it as a way of living where God is always present in our hearts, souls, and minds. It would be a way of living where we shared both little and big experiences with Him. That kind of relationship could be a real blessing to a person locked inside their broken body.
Wouldn’t we act differently if each day we were aware of God’s presence and involvement in our lives? I think so. I think we would be kinder to others and gentler with people. I think we would help one another and pray about every little thing. We would pray that our garden grows better and know that the minor events of today are as important to God as the big things. I think we’d even drive a car differently if we drove as if Jesus were sitting in the back seat. Living that way would probably mean that we were a lot more involved in working with those in less fortunate circumstances. Ultimately, I think we would be as available to God as we expect Him to be to us.
May 21st, 2012 · 3 Comments
Categories: DE Thoughts
Howard Schultz said
am May 21 2012 @ 9:36 am
Interesting April, I like, now what about if I died, in my mind that is to my flesh. Would I then be alive as one with God in the Spirit of God? Would my recreated Spirit be one with God’s Spirit? Would Jesus be in the backseat as a backseat driver or in the front as the Driver?
So I like in the Garden, back to before the eating of the tree, when there was no stress, worry, or fear, no high emotions. For is that not where stress, worry and fear are from high emotion?
Anyway thought I might put some thought provoking thought out there, bringing us home relaxing us to trust God that in God we are back in the Garden safe and secure forever, the first day of belief. God is juist working out what God through Christ has already worked in as we continue in belief
Howard
April Terry said
am May 21 2012 @ 11:09 am
Part of my message at the senior facility was a story that my dad told me once, Howard. He said that when he lived in Seattle he had a garden and it was so beautiful. His neighbor who lived next door had a garden, too, and he was always asking my dad how his garden was so much more beautiful. The plants grew better in my dad’s garden, and there were fewer pests attacking. So, one day he asked my dad what his secret was, and my dad said, “Are you sure you want to know?” The neighbor said, “Yes!” Then my dad said that he prayed around his garden everyday. The guy didn’t know what to think about that.
I think that when we get to the point that we pray even for a garden to grow better, we are beginning to find out what life could’ve been like in the Garden before the fall. I think, as Christians, we should be trying to live life as much like that we are humanly capable. If we do, it will permeate our relationships with others, with God, and with the things we grow as well.
Howard Schultz said
am May 21 2012 @ 11:43 am
we are beginning to find out what life could’ve been like in the Garden before the fall. I think, as Christians, we should be trying to live life as much like that we are humanly capable.
I agree this is how I found out to die to myself for in the garden Adam and Eve were alive 100% to god and yet the devil deceived them and they became dead to their spirit that was connected to God in live everlasting. Then through Jesus that is restored we are recreated to live in the Spirit of God in our Spirit’s one with God for all sin through the cross is condemned to the flesh. as he told Nicodemus first born of the flesh then born of the Spirit. I have tried and tried in and of my flesh nature to no perfection at all. Did well in many a things but never complete in him. Then one day I heard Romans 6:11 and then in Romans 7 I serve God with the inward man which is the Holy Ghost. this to me what i found out is where one is recreated by God to live from
Love you Sister hoping this helps and you do help me as well
Howard