picture taken by Kay Barkley

Burning western sky at sunset by Kay Barkley

“Jesus never gave up the Edenic model but lived as God with us outside the Garden, deeply, graciously, redemptively in the real world East of Eden.” Stan Mitchell

Directionally Challenged

We are East of Eden. Going East is a metaphor for moving away from God. (Genesis 2:8, 3:24, 4:16) Traveling West is headed back toward where God dwells. In all scripture when we read of movement to the east we can be sure the movement was in the WRONG direction. To enter the Tabernacle or the Temple one was walking west! And the further west you go, the closer to God you became!!! (https://www.learnreligions.com/tabernacle-gate-of-the-court-700103)

Adam and Eve moved out of the Garden: The perfect place of fellowship with God. Mankind moves further and further east all the time, believing the lie, “mankind is getting better.” Turn on the news and you will see the lie in living color.

Turn Around

Jesus came and lived East of Eden with us. Fully human, fully God. He proved we can live an abundant life here and now, but only by being in close communication with the Father all the time. He also proved “in this world we will have trouble!” (John 16:33) His life was filled with every challenge we face. He showed us how far we should go for others….He went to the cross.  He did so to show us the way home! GO WEST!!! West is the way back to the place we are “hardwired” for by our Father. Our DNA was not wired for this struggle! (Discord, disease, death) We were wired for freedom and fellowship. (God said it was not good for man to be alone and gave us each other and HIMSELF!). (Genesis 2:18) Jesus did however, teach us how to deal with struggle: Gratitude. He covers our shame with love, teaches us to be vulnerable, shows us how to have courage, and to embrace our “imperfections” as gifts! This is how we “live our one life well.” (see footnote)

Grief East of Eden

Grief is a part of our East of Eden experience. Jesus understands! He says to our broken hearts, “Me too.” And in the wise and learned words of Brene’ Brown, He drops “marbles (makes deposits) in our jar” to prove to us we are valuable to Him!

“Go West Young Man”

If you are walking East, please turn around! Jesus is standing right there and He will lead you Home! He will walk West with you. Just reach out and say yes to the redemption He has provided. His guidance will cost you nothing. He has paid your fare in FULL! I will meet you there, back in Eden! No more fear. No more pain. No more tears. No more grief! (Revelation 21:4)

Fear No More by Building 429

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzhChnHWYo

Lord, God of Heaven and earth,

Thank you for sending Your Son to lead us back to where we belong. Give us the courage to stop, turn around, and head home. We are all prodigals. Thank you for welcoming us home with a feast, a robe, and a ring. (Luke 15:11-32)

(footnote) Thank you Brene’ Brown and Ann Voskamp for writing on difficult subjects and for allowing people to learn from your wealth of knowledge. Thank you for hearing others hearts! You have provided a vocabulary to express my deepest thoughts to our Father.