<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/33c73fbf-9e6c-47d8-96f4-07851f210bad/IMAGE_2022-12-06_185208.jpg" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/33c73fbf-9e6c-47d8-96f4-07851f210bad/IMAGE_2022-12-06_185208.jpg" width="40px" /> “When the gardens die, the village dies”
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Executive summary: In Chapter 12, the author delves into the fascinating world of nature and uncovers some incredible metaphors and symbols that reveal deeper truths about human identity and purpose. From the majestic eagle soaring high in the sky to the tiny ant scurrying along the ground, nature is a treasure trove of wisdom that we can tap into if we know how and where to look.
But this chapter is not just about nature. It also introduces the periodic table of human behaviour, a powerful tool that can help us understand ourselves and those around us. By breaking down human behaviour into its constituent elements, we can gain a deeper appreciation of our own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of the people we interact with on a daily basis whether we are artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, or something else entirely, we all have something valuable to contribute.
In nature, a mother bird finds a safe place in the wilderness to hatch and raise her brood without disturbance and in seclusion until her young are ready to fly. Similarly, a fox incubates in its hole with undistracted focus until the fullness of time.
This concept of incubation echoes the complexity of the union between the soul and the yoke of Christ. There is something deeply elemental in the doctrine of human formation, as taught by Adam, Moses, Jesus, and Paul.
From Adam, we learn the laws of the Homo sapien, including the seven innate faculties that educate the body to sight, touch, hearing, speech, organization, leadership, and compassion. Each of these faculties is “shared equally between the sexes, is a default setting in the creative order, and uniquely distinguishes us from the rest of the created terrestrial world” (the late Dr Michael Heiser, Unseen Realm).
Moses provides insight into the worship that the Father seeks, in spirit and in truth. Through the seven pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle, we have silhouettes of the shape, dimension, and consciousness of the proto-church in the wilderness. "The old is in the new revealed, the new is in the old concealed." Here, Moses provides instructions that are embedded with future truths hidden in the seven archetypes in Paul.
In Peter, we find the same modalities listed as the seven natural endowments given to Adam at the beginning for human flourishing, namely virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and agape love. These are qualities indigenous to the first couple, shared equally between them for mutual beneficence, and for dignity, sobriety, and efficiency in the family of God.
Thus, these gifts of Abba Father are seven-fold, given in perpetuity, unfolded in the natural order of creation, and developed in wise curation by teachers, coaches, and mentors whose leadership brings about clarity of purpose and meaningful action. The foxes dig holes to lay their young, the birds of the air build nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (οὐκ ἔχει ποῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνῃ, Lk 9:58).
It's interesting to note that the priestly tradition in ancient Israel observed a pattern in the agricultural cycles of trees, which applies to both the natural and spiritual worlds. The ancient farmer tended to his harvest, benefiting from the blessing of rain upon the land, and pledged further worship and obedience during the practice of Tu B'shevat, or the birthday of the trees. Even in the dead of winter, on tax day, farmers paid their taxes in anticipation of the next year's harvest, based upon the rewards from a previous year's bonanza. This tradition highlights the importance of recognising the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of the natural and spiritual worlds. It also emphasises the need for preparation and diligence in order to reap the rewards of a successful harvest.
Moreover, the seven natural endowments given to Adam for human flourishing, as described by Peter, are qualities that are equally shared between both sexes, and are crucial for the dignity and efficiency in the institution of monogamy. These gifts, which include virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and agape love (2 Pet 1:5-7) , are given in perpetuity and are developed through wise curation by teachers, coaches, and mentors.
As we continue to explore the periodic table of human behaviour, we can uncover deeper truths about our identity and the design of the Father from our mother's womb. These truths were decoded by Moses in the tabernacle, defined by Paul in the early church, and predicted by Jesus in the apocalypse.
The periodic table of human behaviour is similar to the periodic table of elements in chemistry, in that it is a way of organising and understanding complex information. By breaking down human behaviour into categories, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. For example, we can look at the different types of personalities and how they interact with each other. We can also examine the different types of motivations that drive us and how we respond to different situations. The periodic table of human behaviour is a valuable resource for anyone interested in psychology and understanding human nature.
Let us strive to be like the olive, which when pressed produces virgin oil, the wheat which when sifted and fired produces fresh bread, and the grapes in the vat that produce vintage wine. These symbols in nature hold future truth yet to be discovered by those who seek to return back to the garden - fresh bread, virgin oil, vintage wine.
The phrase "As grain for bread is crushed" is a metaphor that can be applied to many aspects of life. It is a reminder that growth and transformation often come at a cost. Just as grain must be crushed before it can be transformed into nourishing bread, we too must undergo challenges and difficulties in order to become the best version of ourselves.
