I have wondered off and on throughout my life what constitutes success. How do I know when I am fulfilled and happy? It is at these times that my mind fills up with often-conflicting images of opulence and altruism. Which begs this quandary to be posed, is it possible to have both? Can I be rich and generous and will either or both pave my way to happiness? Religious leaders of all sorts will tell me, no reassure me, heck they will admonish me to seek the spiritual path of their flavor. I'm a religious guy, I know the drill but my soul is not made up of ectoplasmic ethereal goop, It is made of flesh and blood and bones and I can't help but wonder, no believe that spiritual fulfillment is not found in the spiritual but the physical. Blasphemy you say. I doubt it! Adam and Eve were given a choice between making their own way in the world and the physical paradise G-d had made for them. They chose to make there own way in the world.
Here we are today folks. We are their children, their progeny. We have picked up where mom and dad failed. We are still trying to make our way in the world. We are trying to find the alternative to that very physical paradise on earth that G-d had prepared for our first parents, that paradise they turned down for an illusive promise of hidden or secret knowledge. "Your eyes shall be opened" insisted the serpent. "They have become as one of us to know good and evil" echoed G-d as he escorted our first parents from their earthly paradise off into an unknown and unexplored world, full of uncertain promise and hope beyond hope one might say. But, what has become of that quest? Have we found that knowledge? G-d said we did! "We had become as G-d to know good and evil." Isn't that what the serpent said would happen? So what happened? Did we become some what enlightened? Do we feel more like G-d?
Our quest has brought us in circles around the globe as we dig, jump, and fly all over our blue marble in our special quest. We have found some interesting stuff along the way. Let me tell you. Some interesting stuff, no doubt but how much of it has truly taken us to where we first sought to go? The words of Lucifer the once Arc angle, now fallen from Grace and the words of the Almighty both echo in harmony like a ringing in my ears, "They have become as one of us to know good and evil" That is what our mom and dad sought. Isn't it? To become as G-d? That is what Lucifer sought? He wanted to be like G-d. But me! What about me? Have I truly become like G-d to know good and evil?
Time has passed since then. So much time has passed that we don't know anything about that first generation. We don't know how far we have come since then. We hardly even know the difference between good and evil anymore, heck we even doubt that there is a difference, or that there is good and evil at all. We doubt the devil who told us those first words that made us go and seek. We doubt G-d who reassured us that indeed we had found what we sought out but to no avail because just like the children of Israel who despite being at the foothills of the promised land of Canaan because of doubt they had to wander another 500 years in the desert as nomads.
Could it be? Could it be that we are Nomads wandering in our own back yard, out around our own Garden of Eden, while the truth is already here and our earthly paradise already waiting? Could it be that what Satan did to our mom and dad was cast doubt in their minds. Could it be that through faith they could have reclaimed paradise once more? That is the promise that is given us by G-d today! That is what G-d had wanted of our parents back then.
So then, what of my hope for opulence and altruism and the path to happiness between them that seems to elude us humans, is it possible? Could what my soul long for be right here! Right now? Didn't Jesus say my Kingdom is not of this world? However, didn't he also All things that the Father has are mine? So which is it? Well from experience, I can tell you of the kingdoms of this world of which Jesus wants no part off. They are empty and desolate; they are mirages in the wilderness of sand in which I wander. However, in the center there is a place. It is a place of quite rest; it is my physical beloved home. The place our mom and dad left so long ago. It is Eden and at its center stands a tree with fruit which promises life. I Have the knowledge; I know the path so off I go! Bye!