Orthodixie

[Meditations are intended to be read sequentially, from 1 to 33.]

In the Garden …

Knowledge.

Eating of the fruits of the Tree in the Garden, we find that we can’t get our fill. “More, more, more!” we passionately cry. Though we tire of anger, it seems to be a constant, consistent, emotion in our dominion.

Lust, we find, leads to action. The deed being done, we lie alone wasted with grief and remorse. The cure for which we also seek upon the Tree in the Garden. For the beautiful creature claims to have a remedy for all our ills.

This day, as we shrink from the fruit of lust, we are offered an orb of pride. The beautiful creature tells us that this fruit is the chief remedy of all ailments. “Taste and see,” says he.

[Meditations are intended to be read sequentially, from 1 to 33.]

In the Wilderness …

It seems that every day we awake in the Wilderness. Then we must choose to either spend our time in the Garden or on the Hill.

Decisions, decisions, decisions …

“I cannot do it alone.” It was just a thought. Or did it come from deeper within? Whatever it was, it landed us on the Hill! But, immediately upon our arrival, we found that we were surrounded by blood. Just before we cried “No!” … our souls were fed on “faith, hope, love.”

At rest in the Garden, we put such things out of our minds as we bask ‘neath the Tree.

[Meditations are intended to be read sequentially, from 1 to 33.]

Again in the Garden …

Our soul alone in silence waits.

Something is not right. In the Garden, we think we have found Paradise. Yet why is our soul so unhappy? Can it not taste the fruit? Does it not feel the power? Is it not shining with the light of the Garden?

“No,” says the soul. For a moment, our brain — even our body — agrees. But we KNOW better.

“You have eaten of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,” says the soul. “This, says God, is forbidden.”

Yet, we are in the Garden. “In the Garden, nothing is forbidden.” The beautiful creature said so. And, besides, we KNOW that the Tree in the Garden is the Tree of Life. It must be. For the man on the Tree on the Hill has died. A tree that ushers in death cannot bring life. This much we know. Therefore, this Tree, in the Garden must be …

[Meditations are intended to be read sequentially, from 1 to 33.]

In the Garden …

In the Garden there is only life. The hill of death and doom seems to us now like a bad dream. We are thankful to be in the Garden. The beautiful and inviting creature tells us that the Tree in the Garden is known as the Tree of Life. After what we saw on the Hill, we believe him.

We then sink our teeth into a good-sized bit of sloth and decide to give the Hill no more thought. We lust for more, proud of our new found life. We eat, and eat, and eat. A glutton never had it so good. It is easy, nay necessary, to be greedy in the Garden. Our avarice knows no bounds — we envy all. “I want it all!” we shout in anger.

We are clothed as royalty.

The beautiful creature in nowhere to be found. Does this mean? Of course. We are in charge!

[Meditations are intended to be read sequentially, from 1 to 33.]

In the Wilderness …

The Wilderness is not where we want to be. Yet everyday finds us there with decisions to make.

We are in the Wilderness today with bruises. We were kicked out of the Garden. Did we kick ourselves out? Anyway, we didn’t want to leave. But our friends betrayed us.

There we were with all the powers one could ask for — and WHAM!, betrayal. We lost all, in the Garden.

He’s on the Tree. The Hill that looks like Hell. Bruised and empty, we’ve had it with the Garden. Our soul sings, “Lord, forgive.”

We are there, beneath the Fruit of the Tree on the Hill. Feeling betrayed from the bountiful, beautiful fruit of the Garden, we decided to partake of this food. It looks bitter, dying … dead? Yet, behold, there is redemption therein, for the fruits of this Tree are Humility, Patience, Chastity, Contentedness, Temperance, Liberality, and Diligence.

We look upon the Fruit, the man on the Tree. “May we stay here always, Lord?” With eyes of love he looks upon us and says, “I love you” … and dies.

“No!” we cry.

Immediately we are transported to the Garden.