Love Means Catching Them When They Fall by Meirav M.
‘Let’s make a new being like us,’ said Father one morning.
‘Yes,’ said Son, ‘a being that will be able to love and be loved.’
‘Yes,’ said Spirit, ‘a being that will be able to think and make choices.’
‘Yes,’ said Father, ‘they must be free to make choices.’
So the decision was made. The new beings would breathe oxygen, and a planet was made with oxygen all round it. Trees were made to bear fruit for the new beings to eat, and to give them shade from the heat of the sun. Beauty was put into trees, flowers, even tiny butterflies. ‘This way they will see how much I love them,’ said Father. ‘I won’t just give them what they need – I’ll go over the top, I’ll give them spectacular sights, enjoyable sounds, lovely scents. I want them to know I love them.’
‘Will they love us in return?’ Son asked.
Spirit held his breath.
‘They’ll be free to choose,’ said Father quietly. ‘That means that the ones who will, will love me with all their hearts, out of free choice. That’s the only kind of love I’m interested in.’
‘It’s the only kind of love worth having,’ agreed Son, ‘but it will be very hard, won’t it? Loving those who don’t love us back?’
‘It will be very painful,’ Spirit whispered.
They all looked at each other and nodded. The decision was made. They would totally and completely love each of the new beings, no matter how painful it got.
They watched the new beings tenderly, enjoying their every step, smiling at each new discovery they made. They smiled contentedly as Woman stopped and said to Man, ‘Look at that sunset, isn’t it glorious?!’ They were delighted when Man found food for them to eat. They watched joyously as Man and Woman joined together in lovemaking. They wept tears of gladness when the first baby was formed inside Woman.
‘They’re bound to see how much you love them,’ said Son.
‘Yes, you’ve given them such a great planet,’ said Spirit.
‘I gave them the freedom to choose,’ said Father quietly.
They watched as Man and Woman took a walk one afternoon, Man humming happily, Woman holding onto his arm and pointing excitedly at beautiful flowers, both of them stopping to listen when they heard a bird singing. Suddenly they came to the Fence.
Father, Son and Spirit held their joint breath and watched. They could see Evil moving from the Fence towards Woman and whispering in her ear. Then Woman spoke to Man. ‘Tell me, what is this?’ she asked.
‘It’s something Father made to keep us out of this bit of the wood,’ Man explained.
Evil whispered in Woman’s ear again, and she asked further, ‘Why would Father want to keep us out?’
‘Because it’s bad for us to go in there – it’s dangerous.’
Again came the whisper, and again she spoke: ‘How do you know?’
‘Because Father told me when he put me here.’
Another whisper in her ear, and her voice uttering the question: ‘And you believe everything he says?’
Father, Son and Spirit wept joint tears.
They wept as they watched Man and Woman break down the Fence. They wept as they watched them go into the dangerous place and come out totally changed.
‘You’re just a no good slob,’ Woman was shouting at Man.
‘Bitch!’ Man replied and slapped Woman hard across her beautiful, delicate face.
The birds paused in their singing, disturbed by the ugly noise.
Man scratched his head in bewilderment. ‘The world’s not so nice any more,’ he thought. ‘Where did all these thorns come from? And what are these things flying about and – ouch – they sting!’
Woman looked around her and started crying in despair. ‘The harmony has gone. It’s all a mess.’ Somehow she knew they could never get the harmony back… unless… unless Father would do something to repair the damage. But why would he? After they’d disobeyed him, gone deliberately into the place he’d told them not to?
For a brief moment she thought she’d heard the wind whisper through the trees, ‘Father still loves you.’ But Evil quickly spoke into her mind, ‘Don’t be so naïve.’
Father sighed deeply. ‘It has started,’ he groaned, ‘I’ve lost them.’ Son looked at Father’s anguish and said, ‘I’ll go down and bring them back.’ ‘It will be very painful,’ said Spirit.
Son thought for a moment. Then he looked down again, watching those beings that he loved. And he was filled with compassion.
‘I’ll start getting ready,’ he said. ‘These people need rescuing – they’re in a total mess.’
© Meirav M. 2004
