The Cabin

Connor and his son, CJ, are camping in Yosemite National Park one sunny summer. They have set up camp and sit on their chairs around a campfire. “What do you want to do tomorrow?” CJ asks.

“I think I want to go on a hike. What do you think?” CJ had a big smile on his face. “Yeah!” he yelled. How about an easy trail for our first day? I know one that leads to Mirror Lake,” he stated.

“Sure,” said CJ, “Can I have a marshmallow?” he asked. “I have a stick.” They sat in silence as they both roasted marshmallows. After a while, they decided to call it a night.

Dawn broke, and they woke up early, had breakfast, and walked to the Mirror Lake trailhead, ready to explore. They had curious and mischievous personalities, so they veered off the trail to discover different sites. Traveling around the trees in different directions, they stumbled on an old run-down cabin. The cabin’s weathered boards seem to blend in with the trees. They walked to the weathered cabin, and Connor’s grip tightened on CJ’s shoulders as they pushed open the door, revealing lush greenery and vibrant flowers with the scent of paradise. “What the heck is that dad?” CJ asked in shock.

“I don’t know. This…this is nothing like anything I ever saw before.” Connor replied.

“Let’s go in!” said CJ excitedly. CJ had already opened the door before he had time to say no. Connor tried to stop him fearfully, but CJ was already through the door. Connor was forced to go in with him. Nervously, they walked around in disbelief, then heard voices. He grabbed CJ and ducked behind a bush as a man and woman walked by naked. Connor covered his son’s eyes, looking at them in disbelief.  Hearing their conversation, they called each other Adam and Eve. “No, it can’t be,” he whispered. Then he heard a voice from the sky. Connor and CJ looked up and saw the light breaking through the clouds. The voice told Adam and Eve they could eat from any tree but not the Tree of Knowledge. Connor’s mind reeled, and his anxiety at the weight of history unfolding. He knew he was not dreaming because he remembered the drive to Yosemite, setting up camp and campfire last night. He was amazed at what they saw and asked himself, “Why would I have been brought here to the beginning of creation?” Then, a lightbulb turned on in his mind. “I can warn her!” he whispered excitedly.

“Dad, what’s going on?? CJ’s voice trembled; his eyes wide with fear.

“I think…”  Connor paused, “I am supposed to warn her what will happen if she eats from the tree of knowledge, how she would be about to ruin the world’s righteousness. That means, back to when everything was perfect, CJ.” He glanced back at the cabin door left open, then returned to look at Adam and Eve. “I can rewrite our history,” he said quietly. She saw Eve reach for the sparkling apple, placing her hand around it, and Connor’s heart raced. “What should I do?”

The moment seemed to freeze, with Eve’s hand reaching for the apple. He questioned that this could indeed be a dream. However, he had recalled every detail of their camping trip so far. Even the hot oatmeal they had for breakfast cooked on the portable camping stove they had brought.  If this were a dream, he wouldn’t recall all those details vividly unless the entire camping trip was a dream.

He knew that wasn’t likely because they had been planning this trip for months. Connor didn’t believe in magic cabins, magic doors, or magic anything for that matter. He was bewildered and, for a moment, questioning his reality.  However, he couldn’t think about that for too long. A pressing question had to be answered.

He began to question if he changed the course of history right from the start, would he and CJ even exist?  Would he be wiping their existence altogether? As tough as life had been for them with all their human weakness and pain, resulting in imperfect decisions and consequences, Connor knew that despite all of that, the love between them made it all worth it.

Many lessons have been learned throughout their lives. Even though some of them have been from painful experiences, the lessons learned have been a powerful message of growth and healing.  Connor was unsure that life would have that kind of growth if everything were always perfect. 

He looked at CJ again, treasuring their life together and the healing they have made throughout their lives, and knew that he was not about to sacrifice the life they had lived, even with the painful experiences. All of life’s experiences have shaped who they have become. It has given their life purpose. Connor wondered if the fall was in God’s plan to provide us free will and the capacity for growth through our experiences.

He had made his decision. Suddenly, the moment unfroze, and Connor allowed Eve to grab the apple and take a bite. He watched as Eve gave the apple to Adam. His heart sank, witnessing the fear that consumed them the instant they ate. Despite his sorrow, he had peace within. He knew that choice would give humanity the potential for growth and healing, making life much more valuable.

Connor knew what happened next but patted CJ on the back. “Let’s go,” he said. “But I wanna see what happens, Dad?” CJ said in disappointment. “I will tell you the story tonight over the campfire,” he reassured CJ,” “It’s a sad story of humanity’s fall but also of its redemption.” CJ looked at him curiously, “What does redemption mean, Dad?” Taking CJ’s hand and walking back to the door, he said, “Healing CJ…healing.”