The Other Tree

Long ago in ancient days, there stood a garden, crafted carefully by the Great Creator. This was a garden of untold beauty and mystery, not to be matched by any other garden or forest to come in this age. It was full of the most glorious oak trees, the most magnificent willows, and the most luxurious apple trees. But most glorious of all were the twin trees placed in the center of the garden. These were crafted with special care, with strong, sturdy trunks that seemed aged with wisdom, though they were just as new as everything else, and leaves that seemed to shine gold in the brilliant light.

In this garden were two other creatures. The man and his wife walked freely in the garden and enjoyed everything it had to offer. And offer it did, but the best thing about this man and woman was the relationship they had with the Creator. Their union was unbroken and unblemished and they basked each day in the light of the Creator's love. He supplied for their every need, and even offered to them the one of the extrordinary trees, called Life, asking only that they not eat from the second tree, called Knowledge.

The request was easy enough until the woman was deceived. With a slight of tongue and a seed of doubt, the perfect garden was fractured, and all of creation with it. Desiring wisdom, the man and his wife ate from the tree of knowledge. They could not see that wisdom would have been found in taking from the the other tree.

The Creator banished them from the garden, and the tree of life stood alone and untasted in a Garden abandoned. Time wore on. The man and his wife had children, who had children, who had children. The Garden grew forgotten, and the Tree with it. Eventually, no one spoke of the tree of life anymore and it became a little less than a legend, while the rest of the world grew cold and tired and weary. Every once in a while, someone would speak of the Tree, and a hope would glow behind their eyes, but the expectancy became lost as impatient people turned to other things.

One day a man was born. He was a man like anyone else, but he was different. He spoke of a Father and a Creator and of Redemption. Some welcomed this message, a long awaited relief to their daily affliction. He healed many and encouraged more and his name spread throughout the earth. But there were people who hated him, and they began to plot to silence his message.

Eventually, they succeeded. In another garden, one with less splendor than the Garden of old, the perfect man was captured. He was arrested and tried and found guilty, and even those who had followed him began to chant with the crowd for his death. Filthy people with selfish hearts, and I among them, screaming for his end.

The day for his persecution was set, and the man was locked away. He was beaten and mocked and scarred. He would be executed with two thieves, all dignity and honor stripped from him.

In preparation, the soldiers cut down a tree. Aged and weathered by countless years. Even as they cut it down, the soldiers remarked at it's beauty and the way it's leaves seemed to shine gold in the sun. In their hearts they felt a stirring, but they shook it off and continued chopping. They built a cross and hung upon it the Perfect man. He hung there 6 hours, until finally with a shout he gave up his life. No man could comprehend the agony of that cry, a son who's father has turned his face away. It was cry that brought with it a darkness and a trembling in the earth. Surely, this man had been something other.

Three days and the earth was quiet. Three days and the rocks silently wept. Three days and the birds stopped singing. But on the morning of the third day, the Perfect man stepped forth, back from the grave and fully present on the earth. He spoke again of Redemption and of things already come, but not yet complete. And many looked at the tree on the hill. The Tree that seemed to have brought death, now bringing forth Life in the fullest and life everlasting. The Tree of life, standing tall and proud on a hill stained with blood. The tree of life carrying the most precious gift that was ever given. The tree of life, that in itself was meaningless, but with the resurrection of the Perfect one, stood once again for what we had long forgotten.

In the Garden of Eden, we had a choice, and we chose knowledge, seeking wisdom. Over and over again, we chose knowledge, always seeking wisdom, always falling short. But then the Perfect one came, and in the garden of Gethsemane, he made the choice that we could not, upholding above himself the will of the Creator and restoring to us all the gift of life. He is the Tree of Life, and he has opened once again the gates to the glorious Garden.