I remember it as if it were yesterday. The tall, soft, green grasses brushing against my skin as I walked through long open fields. Massive, towering, trees covered in a thick bark that wrapped around trunks so large, a person could have built a home inside. The canopy of leaves and branches looming high above swayed just enough in the wind to let slivers of light shine through to dance on the forest floor shadows. There were red, yellow, blue, pink, white, and every color blossom imaginable hanging from branches, vines, and rocks, and sprouting out of the ground. Fruits were hanging all around as well, and just as varied and plentiful as the flowers. Oh my they were delicious! I would bite into a shiny, ripe, plump piece, and the fleshy part, saturated in succulent juices, melted in my mouth. I had it made in that garden. I was never cold, hungry, or wanting of anything. Actually, I became quite comfortable. I began taking the blessings of my Father for granted, and I failed to recognize the consequences of such an attitude.

Then it happened. One day, while strolling in the garden, I saw a silhouette moving towards me from the horizon. I could not tell who it was, but I did see something that intrigued me in the person’s hand. I could not make out what the object was, but, for some reason, I was unable to focus my gaze elsewhere. Finally she, my wife Eve, came into view, and I saw what she was carrying. It was an apple, just an apple,and I wondered to myself,"Why are you so curious about a piece of fruit?" As she came closer, I became aware of the reason for my curiosity. Immediately I remembered my Father's words,"You shall not eat from it, touch of it, or you will surely die."However, I set that memory aside. The temptation of being like the one who made it was overwhelming. So, when she offered it to me, I took it and ate of it.

Instantly something strange happened. When I looked up, I noticed something different about Eve.I felt a sensation come over my body, and my face grew warm. I saw that her face had turn as red as the fruit we had eaten, and her hands were clammy. I asked her what was wrong, and she pointed down at me. It was then that I realized we were naked. I suddenly felt awkward and out of place. I did not want either of us to be seen so,embarrassed, I ran into the woods to gather rough, spine covered fig leaves to clothe each of us. The leaves served a twofold purpose actually. One; they covered us, and two; the discomfort of the coarse surface, rubbing against our bare skin, was a constant reminder of how uncomfortable attempting to hide our sin would be.

Not long after, we heard footsteps in the distance. I knew who it was, and normally my first response would have been excitement. But this time I reacted differently. Because of shame and fear, I jumped into the trees and hid. When he arrived, he called out my name. I did not want to respond, but, reluctantly, I did. He asked me why I was hiding, and I told him what had happened earlier; although, I think he already knew. He turned, and looked at Eve, and told her what punishment she would endure. Then he turned to me and said,"Cursed is the ground because of you." Those words pierced like a knife into my heart, and I saw how lowly I had truly become. To describe the pain is an impossible feat , but it was like that of mother losing her only child. He then said,”In toil you will eat of it (the ground) all the days of your life.” He then told me to fetch Eve, and we were to leave the garden.

Life has been hard since that day, very hard. I have to get up every morning in still, quiet, darkness before sunrise and work the hot, dusty fields until long after the sun has set beyond the horizon, and the light is gone. It has been over 400 years, but not one day has gone by that I have not thought about life in the garden. For a long time I made excuses like,”If I had only known then what I know now. I never would have done it.” Though the truth of the matter is, I knew, and I did it anyhow. The comfort and lack of need, I guess, made me weak and prideful. I actually thought I could get away with it. I did not think he would find out. Besides it looked tastier then any fruit I had seen at that point. Yeah, I guess mankind can lay its blame on me, but hey! What would you have done? Everyday I have laid my hands on this heavy, old, splintered plow and gone to work under this blistering sun, I’ve regretted doing it. I have heard a-lot of people say, ” Sometimes you gotta learn the hard way”, but I think my story would be a good argument against that philosophy. Well it is getting late ,and I have work to do. It has been a real pleasure talking with you ,and I hope you come back to see me again sometime.