I just got back from taking a walk. It’s a beautiful spring evening. The fields are greening up. Tiny spring wildflowers can be found hiding in the fence rows. Naked tree branches are showing hints of life. The air breathes with a freshness that is both calming and invigorating.
It’s the kind of beautiful spring evening that can break a guy’s heart.
For years spring evenings (and beautiful summer and autumn evenings) have had the capability to fill me with a longing so deep and profound that my heart hurts. All too often, rather than allow myself to feel that longing I try to fill it by eating junk food, or try to numb it by watching a mindless movie, or else I spiral downward into a self-serving case of the “poor-me’s”.
Tonight, I’ve taken some time to actually experience that longing and to question its source.
I can’t help but wonder if in the ancient spiritual DNA of the soul God has imprinted us with the memory of Eden. I wonder if He uses evenings such as this to remind us that evening was His chosen time to walk and talk with Adam. Did God choose evening because that was the time of day that Adam most needed companionship? Did God choose evening because that was the time He most enjoyed sharing His creation with… His creation?
Perhaps that unrecognized memory of Eden is the longing that calls out to me on a spring evening. Perhaps that longing is my soul’s response to the voice of God calling softly, patiently, lovingly. Calling through the centuries, and yet also calling from His Spirit within me, “Mark, Mark, where are you?”
Perhaps in this new season I will learn to allow Him to touch my longing and to walk with me, in the cool of the evening.
I love these concepts!
“I can’t help but wonder if in the ancient spiritual DNA of the soul God has imprinted us with the memory of Eden. I wonder if He uses evenings such as this to remind us that evening was His chosen time to walk and talk with Adam. Did God choose evening because that was the time of day that Adam most needed companionship?”
It reminds me of the writings of C.S. Lewis when he discusses the concept of “true myth.” He essentially says that the reason that we are drawn to stories of good vs. evil, and redemption….is because of the True Myth. There is a story that transcends all others, that is more true than any other, and something in the very fabric of our being resonates with this truth.
Paul says that we can plainly see from creation that there is a God, but I think you’ve properly addressed the “why” of it. The memory of Eden is in our D.N.A….and so we long for the Divine. Beautiful!
John Eldredge also refers to Lewis’ concept of “true myth”. That concept was one of the keys that unlocked my writing. 🙂
I hadn’t thought about Paul’s words in connection to my experience with evenings, but that is so right on. Thank you for making that connection Burt!