“There were times when the place was seething with bodies – but it was almost as if I was the only guy in the garden.”
Haven’t we all been there? In a crowded party but quite definitely alone? So writes Dave Hopwood in his book “The Blokes Bible”, which rewrites Biblical stories in a way that relates to an ordinary human, and specifically male, experience.
Adam, in the story quoted above, has just finished a long day of naming the animals. he took a “working lunch” while naming the carnivores, and is now chatting to his “mate” (God) while drinking from a coconut.
He’s got a problem, he’s lonely. There’s something not quite right. He doesn’t relate to the animals around him… he wants a companion just like himself.
There’s a very simple truth about humanity to be found in Genesis 2. Man was not built to be alone, and yet we take it as a sign of weakness when somebody feels lonely or “needy”. There is tremendous pressure in our modern society to be self-satisfied and self-sufficient. Having friends is fine, but needing someone? Sounds weak doesn’t it?
And yet, here we are. Way back then, man sat on a rock, chatting to God, laughing about how he had eaten the last unicorn for lunch, enjoying the perfect friendship, great job satisfaction, a roof of stars and coconuts galore. But he’s not satisfied.
Nothing is wrong with the world yet. Everything is right, but man is lonely.
So, it is not wrong, or silly to need people. We were built this way..
Whether historically true or not (it really truly doesn’t matter) the story of Adam, Eve and that famous garden wants us to understand that man was not meant to be alone and that no matter how good things are with your job, with God, with yourself… we all need a human somebody. Not necessarily a romantic partner, but a partner nonetheless.
There’s a lot of us and we’re all clamouring to be noticed. So next time you’re feeling like you’re totally isolated, even in a room full of people don’t imagine that your feelings are pathetic. They are truly human. You are supposed to ache for friendship, and all the people in the party are just as desperate to solve that great loneliness as you are.
Speculations 