6.19.2010

The Apple of My Eye

Adam was lonely. Despite all the animals. I guess a dog is not man's best friend.  So God made a woman just. for. Adam.  A soul mate.  God who merely thought and it happened.  God who did not ponder and wonder but was wholly complete in thought, word and deed.  He made a creature that would completely fill Adam's needs.

Then the serpent came and pointed to the forbidden fruit.  Eve looked at the fruit and it looked good to eat.  How many things were there in the garden that were good to look at and good to eat?  It was only when the serpent pointed that forbidden one out that maybe Eve started to want it.  It's like going to the mall...you see all these things you never knew you had to have! 

Eve was living in paradise.  PARADISE.  Do you understand the circumstance?

Perfection.  Living someplace that was perfectly designed for her, for him.  Living with your soul mate.  So much so that they had no name for each other.  It was only after the fall, when there was a separation that they needed an identifier.  There was no death.  No aging, no wrinkles, no imperfections. I bet she never had to say, "Adam, does this make me look fat??"

And yet.
And YET.

She had everything, but it wasn't enough.  She had to have that other fruit.  Is the Genesis Garden of Eden a true story, a myth or an allegory?  What does this story say about us as a woman?  Do you see yourself in Eve?  I do.

I pondered this as I tend to do.  Percolate.  Simmer.  I have a wonderful husband, a marriage blessed by God, a beautiful earthly home.  I really cannot ask for a more fabulous husband - one who loves me, who cares for me, takes care of me, is patient with me.

And yet.
And YET.

I want more.  I want him to be neater.  My bedroom usually looks like a laundry bomb went off.  Over the years, I just could not keep up and slowly gave up.  I was going to fight and nag every day or I was going to accept it.  I chose to accept it.  But not really.  It eats away at me in a deep, dark corner of my being.  Dissatisfied, unhappy.  This is my home!  My nest!  My sanctuary!  Blah blah blah.  Yadda yadda yadda.  Am I not just. like. Eve??

Oh, the fruit of a perfectly clean bedroom looked good to me.  And I wanted it.  I recognized that desire for something more than I have, something else to make me happier, even though I am in Paradise!  I have turned away from that fruit and to enjoy all the goodness of my world that God has blessed upon me.

I love you HH.  Even if your chair is piled high with clothes.

6.17.2010

Time Unknown

I saw a man old or young in tattered clothes
Tattered pants layered upon layers
Muttering and grunting breathing
He dragged his lame foot
and a broken wheelchair
I thought: He once was
a baby soft cheeks
loved and cooed
My boy
I
hope
you won't
turn into him
Your cute mutterings
about elevators and firetrucks
turning into scary guttural mutterings
Your jet hair I love tangled and tattered
soft cheeks and unbridged nose covered
pushing a broken whatever thinking or not
sirens ambulance hospital doors that shut

you in.
or out.

6.10.2010

Cool Gie

Our heating and cooling system died.  I am having a series of salesmen come and give me quotes. I have to deal with all the presuppositions they'll make: big house = big money = big quote and the she's-a-girl-she-doesn't-know-what-we're-doing thing.  Sigh.  Oh Lord, when will it be all over?

Anyway, I asked Boo to remind me that the air conditioning guy was coming today.  So he wrote a note for me: