Free Will

Adam and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.     Genesis 3:8

Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Immediately, their act of disobedience led them to hide from God.  This seems to be the frequent response of many of us -- a human response. When we stray from the path God has set before us, we often run for cover, hiding from God, dismissing God.  

But the thing is: God sees. God knows our hearts, knows our intent. This is not said for the purpose of shaming us - or trying to make us feel guilty; God is not about guilt or shame. Yet is in those very cross hairs of choice  that we face the miasma of free will.  Do we choose love or hate? Do we choose that which is life giving or that which drains life? 

 As we prepare to make difficult decisions that will affect our lives (and the lives of those around us), it is then when we must turn to the Creator of all that is lovely, all that is noble, all that is holy. It is no time to hide. It is time to square our shoulders and face down the abundance of all that has been granted us and to respond in kind.