A few days ago, I was painting with my son Ben and we were listening to music to help pass the time. A Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song from Woodstock was playing. . .”Well I came upon a child of God. He was walking along the road and I asked him, ‘ Tell me, where are you going”? And his response was, “Got to get back to the land and set my soul free. We got to get ourselves back to the garden.” The music brought back old memories for me of the revolution of the 60’s. Frankly, most of the time I didn’t know if I was coming or going.
You know the story. A generation rejecting a conservative philosophy of life that was strangling them. Departing on a train ride, hoping to arrive at the Garden. I was part of that revolution, at least regarding the music, the message. . .and the drugs. An entire generation had grown new eyes and new ears to see and embrace a new message. It came as a shock to older generations, but it certainly was not a surprise to the Creator, Who had simply turned the page of the story of life, written in full by Him before time began.
Most people who consider deeper things, believe that man started with God in the Garden of Eden; but that’s not where God started with man. When Adam and Eve arrived, they had simply departed from the Eternal Womb of God. They eternally existed within Him and were given birth in time as He gives birth, not only to all things, in all ways; but to every moment of its experience.
Just think about your own life, or if not your own, someone who fits this description. Their song is, “We got to get ourselves back to the garden. ” They’re searching for buried treasure, wanting to fill up the desires of their heart. Lusting, craving, setting their heart upon one thing or another. . .an unquenchable hunger and thirst. Seeing something that they want or they need and departing on the road to obtain it.
When the arrive at their desired destination, they are intoxicated by the experience. High on life! Then they come down. Another moment comes and they’re off again. Just a revolving door, nothing more. Depart, arrive; depart arrive. It makes my head spin.
What about that child of God, walking along the road? Is he any different? No and yes. Different enough to be asked by the other Woodstock traveler, “Tell me, where are you going?” He whispered something to him that is not in the lyrics of the song. It’s a secret. “Man’s goings, every step he takes looking for happiness, are determined by the Lord. How can a man then understand his way or know what he’s doing.” Proverbs 20:24 Then with tears in his eyes, he told the Woodstock traveler, “He knows the way that I take. And as He leads me through the trails and trials of life, I will see the Treasure and I will hear the Music. I will be High, like an eagle. He will turn my own soul into Gold.” The Gold of God.
“We are Stardust; we are Golden; we are caught in the devil’s bargain. . .and we got to get ourselves back to the Garden.”
One door closing then another one opens. Disappointment, then Joy. Always departing; but all the Lilies, all the Dumbo sheep who soar like eagles hear this music and see it with their own eyes, “The Lord will keep you from all evil. He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out (departing) and your coming in (arriving) from this time forth, and for evermore.” Psalm 121:7-8
A Good Moment 