The Road to Eden

“If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world.” (C. S. Lewis, ‘Mere Christianity’)
‘The Road to Eden’ is the story of my quest to apprehend the other-worldly desires – call them, romantic, poetic, or spiritual – that arise in every human heart. What are these yearnings? And from what realm do they hail? Where can a person find satisfaction for the immortal longings of the heart; in what kingdom an elixir for the unquenchable thirsts of the soul? Where could such a quest even start?
Jesus started his preaching with: “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) ‘At hand’ means the desired realm is within reach. The desires themselves, heralded by everything from far-flung stars to a father’s face, high culture to humble craft, deep past to distant future – indeed from all that is beautiful, true and good – are overtures from the heart of Heaven’s King. And ‘repent’ means you can turn around; stop going down Adam and Eve’s dark road to nowhere, and let the temptations of the true desires take you back toward a vast and beautiful kingdom . . . and of course, to the King himself.