Serenity

 

David and Evangeline walked through the Serenity Gardens behind the Hall of Records. A large vine with lavender flowers entangled itself around a white gazebo. Several trees had made their home in the garden, some plentiful with fresh, delectable fruits. The sun shone into the garden with a perfect heat, neither too hot nor too cold, while a melodious breeze sang through the air.

Two snowy doves cooed gently as they cuddled, perched on the arm of a bench. David noticed how peaceful the birds were; they didn't stir or fly away when anyone came near. All creatures lived in harmony here.

David watched with awe as a group of children played in a large wading fountain. One of the little girls suddenly stopped playing and closed her eyes for a moment. After a couple seconds, David was astonished to see gossamer butterfly wings manifest on her back. Taking off into the air, her wings fluttered effortlessly in the breeze.

Everyone truly needs to be here, to see this, to live this. He thought of the millions of lost souls trapped in some horrible nightmare of fear, guilt and worthlessness. David knew he wanted to help these lost people, he just wished he knew how.

“How does rescuing the lost souls help restore the balance?” He wondered, sending the message to Evangeline.

“A human aura is a very powerful energy source, whether it’s positive or negative. The dark energies feed off of negative auras like leeches feeding off blood. They literally suck the life out of the humans!” Her angelic face grimaced as she described the dark forces, then she continued. “The less lost souls there are, the less negative energy there is for the dark energy to feed from.”

“So, if the dark energies cannot feed, do they...die?”

“Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only altered. There will always be the dark and the light, but as long as they are balanced, the universe maintains a harmony. All the chaos, violence and suffering you see on Earth are due to the imbalance.” She explained.

Walking through the garden, he noticed a bright rainbow in the perfect sky. On Earth, the rainbows were two dimensional and a distant blur of colors. This rainbow was three dimensional and had the intensity of stained glass.

“When did the energies become out of balance?” David asked as he examined the end of the rainbow.

She looked longingly into the Serenity Garden and said wistfully. “It has been that way since...Eden.”

 

~

 

“Come, come now Eve.” the dark serpent hissed, its forked tongue tasting the air. “It’s only an apple. What harm could it do to take just one bite?”

“I…I don’t know.” Eve said, flustered, “God told Adam if we ate from this tree, we'd be punished.” She eyed the luscious fruit hanging gracefully from the glorious Tree of Knowledge. Its delectable red flesh beckoned her to bite into it.

“How can one bite be wrong? Why does this 'God' get to command anything of you? Do you really believe that this being owns you? Possesses you? Are you a coward?” The snake’s amber eyes bore into Eve’s. Its long, lithe body coiled itself tighter against the great tree of knowledge, giddy with anticipation. Only the snake knew that he, himself, had pretended to be God and told Adam not to eat from the tree.

Eve nervously stroked her long brown hair, modestly placed to cascade down the front of her, hiding her naked breasts. The snake had informed her earlier that day that her nakedness was a sin, an abomination. That she should not be prancing around the garden showing off her body, tempting Adam with her womanhood.

“You are living in sin, naked and unmarried in eyes of nature.” The snake taunted.

Eve disputed the snake, “We are husband and wife!” But the venomous lies the snake told her convinced her she should feel guilty, dirty and fearful of being banished from the garden.

Ashamed for the first time, Eve searched for anything to hide herself. Eventually she formed a skirt from the long grass to cover her lower half. Adam, of course, had been told the same thing and he also created a cover for himself.

Eyeing a beautiful red apple hanging from the Tree of Knowledge, Eve contemplated her actions.

The snake is right, I'm not anyone's property, she thought, why should some higher power tell me that I can only eat from certain trees and not others?

Reaching for the apple, she paused a moment, thinking of Adam. Her love, her soul mate, what would he think of this? Pulling her hand away, the snake saw she was changing her mind.

“Eve...” The dark figure hissed into her thoughts, “this 'God' doesn't really care about you...he created you for his own entertainment, he was simply bored. Show him you are independent, smart and tired of his commands.”

Determined, Eve reached quickly for the apple and snapped it from its branch. She bit into it quickly so she would not change her mind. Closing her eyes, the sweet taste of apple flooded her mouth. The fruit within the red flesh released its supple delicacies as it slid past her tongue.

Chewing slowly, she opened her eyes. The dark serpent had gone and she was all alone, clutching the forbidden fruit, a large bite torn from its side.

Dropping the apple, Eve began to cry, knowing she must now be banished from the garden, her home. She knew she should just leave. Her sins were too great for God to forgive.

Exiting the gates of the Garden of Eden, Eve looked back at the place where she was born, a place of intense beauty, love and innocence.

How she wished she could stay.

 

~

 

David listened with amazement as Evangeline explained the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. How tragic they believed the snake and felt forced from the garden.

“After Eve had eaten from the apple, Adam sacrificed his place in the garden as well and ate an apple from the tree, just so he could be with Eve.” Evangeline sighed.

 “All this time!” David marveled, “It was the dark energies that had manipulated Adam and Eve into abandoning their true home.”

She explained further, “The 'Garden', in reality, was the fifth dimension and by leaving it, Adam and Eve willingly descended into the third. Little did they know, that only made it easier for the dark energies to manipulate them. Humans have been trapped there ever since.”

Wandering further towards the outskirts of the city, they approached an open field.

Walking over a hill, David saw an expanse of white tents. Like a huge outdoor wedding, hundreds of ivory tents littered the landscape. Under each tent were two or more people talking. At every table, there was a spirit guide and one or more fifth dimensional beings like David.

“What are they doing?” he asked with curiosity.

“The fifth dimensional citizens are being counseled for their next reincarnation. The spirit guides walk them through their new blueprint.” Evangeline explained as they walked amongst the studious beings.

“The spirit guides choose the experiences for them?”

“No, the fifth dimensional beings sit with their counselor and between them; they discuss what experiences they would like to partake in. Everything is based on choice.” She said smiling politely at a group of beings under a tent.

David pondered this thought for a moment, “Why then do terrible things happen on Earth? Like murder, illness and war? Can't we just decide not to experience those things?”

“All growth and experience is based on reaction and learning, sometimes the greatest gifts come in the most unpleasant packages.” She said lovingly.

By David's expression, she could tell he didn't understand.

“For instance,” She continued, “when your mother died of cancer, you chose to become a doctor to help others. You could have chosen a more destructive route in life, like wallowing in self-pity or turning to dangerous substances, but you didn't. You chose to uplift humanity in your own way and contribute to healing the sick. It's all about choices.”

“So how do the dark energies fit into all of this? Don't they create evil in the world?”

“They don't create it, they inspire it. Instead of just allowing a being to choose by their own free will, they influence the direction of thought, thereby creating an imbalance within the soul of the human being.” She explained a sad look upon her face.

David looked around at all the excited beings, discussing their impending trip to Earth like it was fun-filled holiday in Disneyland. He wondered if they'd feel the same when they faced the hardships and pain after they'd forgotten who they really were.

“Don't angels or spirit guides inspire as well, which would affect the direction of the human's choice?” David asked, walking alongside Evangeline.

“Angels and guides create coincidences, present decisions or send inspirational messages through movies, books, art and song.” She said, smiling with a sparkle in her eye.

“How do guides get messages through to those people, the ones who create the art and music? Do the angels just put the thought or idea into the person's mind?”

She answered quickly, “Oh no, inspiration is only delivered when asked for. You see, every person on Earth is given a very specific talent. If a being desires divine intervention, they must first ask before we can assist. That is the Law of Free Will. If we simply deposited the idea into their mind, we'd be no better than the dark energies.”

“Why do you guide us?” David wondered suddenly, his blue eyes focused intently on her lovely face.

“Every dimension is responsible for guiding and protecting the levels beneath them, like guardians.”

“Oh, I see.” he said, nodding. “Well, then who are humans supposed to protect?”

Evangeline looked away for a moment, seeming to contemplate whether or not to answer.

Finally, she turned to him and said plainly, “For the most part...they eat the ones they’re supposed to protect.”

Momentarily horrified, David realized she meant the animals of Earth. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. There did seem to be some mysterious connection between the humans and the animals, a dependency, respect and mutual bond between the two kingdoms.

As they passed by several of the tents, David wondered why some tents had only one person being counseled for reincarnation while other tents had two or more being walked through their blueprints.

Sensing his question, she explained. “Many souls prefer to go to Earth together and experience life as soul mates or soul groups. More often than not, the people you are surrounded by in life have been with you for many lifetimes. Each take turns playing different roles. In one lifetime, you may be the father, in the next, the son or daughter.”

The more she spoke, the more David recalled this information from his previous lifetimes. Closing his eyes, he tried to picture Ellen, Tiffany and his mother. As he did, their many identities over the centuries flashed before him. Every role had been played out by each, so each could experience a new perspective.

Evangeline added, “Certain roles are decided upon so a soul can conquer a specific fear or feat. Difficult scenarios are agreed upon, such as an abusive relationship or family turmoil. Wonderful events, such as babies, marriages and successes are also discussed between the circles of souls.”

Every life, it seemed to David, was a perfect play, designed to allow each soul to evolve.

Pensively, he inquired. “Evangeline, what is the purpose of life on Earth?”

A look of wisdom crossed her angelic face as she answered. “We are immortal souls David. Many eons ago, the Source felt it needed to learn what it was to be mortal.” She paused momentarily, and then continued. “We go to Earth to learn...what it is to die.”

David nodded, though her answer left him with more questions than answers. Before he could ask anymore, she spoke. “Let's go meet your teacher.”

Smiling at Evangeline, he followed her.

She led him to a smaller building that resembled a library. Even though it was tiny compared to some of the buildings, it was still breathtaking in appearance.

On either side of the entrance were beautiful marble statues. Upon closer inspection, he realized that one of the statues was an exact duplicate of the Statue of David.

He marveled at the mastery depicted in this amazing piece of artwork. Every vein within the marble blended into the statue's body as though it were a true map of the human circulatory system. The statue's face wore an expression of peace and thoughtfulness.

On the other side of the door, however, was another statue; one David had never seen before. A woman, etched completely out of marble. The details of her long hair so precise, it was though every last strand had been accounted for. Her face carried the same loving expression as her alabaster neighbor, but with a beautiful smile.

Her breasts curved above her ribcage as she draped one of her elegant arms over them. Though she was a bit shorter than her male counterpart, her long statuesque legs seemed to go on forever.

The most amazing part of the statue was where her other arm was placed, over her pregnant belly. Such a beautiful depiction of mother and unborn child, David was in awe as he lovingly touched her marble stomach.

“Isn't she beautiful?” Evangeline said reverently as she stood beside David.

“Yes,” He responded quietly, “but who is she? I never saw her on Earth, I recognized the Statue of David, but not her.”

Evangeline smiled knowingly, “She is Eve...and he is Adam.” She explained as she waved her hand towards the male statue. “Michelangelo received the inspiration for both, but only completed the male. She is surely his greatest incomplete virtuoso.”

“How could he not have made her?” David asked as he stared at the marble beauty.

“Even though we inspired him, Michelangelo's free will decided what would be done. We can only offer guidance, what the human decides to do with it is up to them.” Evangeline stated.

Touching the statue’s protruding stomach again, David thought to himself. 'Who's in there, I wonder?'

Leading David into the building, Evangeline explained that this was the Hall of Education. Teachers gathered there in order to assist those in every aspect of existence. Whatever a person decided to learn, a teacher would be provided. The teachers would come and the students would simply sit and learn from them, sometimes for the equivalent of hundreds of Earth years.

Evangeline led him to a doorway at the end of the hall. Entering into the room, David was completely shocked. He certainly didn't expect to see this sort of thing in Heaven!