There I stood anticipating the stinging pain and knowing that I had little choice. I put my fingers to my eye and ouch! Instant pain, blurred vision, watery eyes and the knowledge I had to do it again with the other eye. I have been a contact lens wearer for the best part of thirty years. You would have thought by now that I would have worked out that if I take my contact lenses out before I chop chilli peppers then I could avoid a world of pain and discomfort.
This time of year, sees many young adults leave for university or similar. As they go, like many parents, I hope that my children will not have to go through the same pains of growing up that I endured. But some pain is inevitable as our children find their own feet in the world and in some ways, it is necessary for growth and independence. As parents we try to teach our children good ways to live, strategies to cope and to be there when things ‘do go not as well as they could have’.
I am reminded of the story of the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit. With their newfound knowledge, they thought they knew it all and could take on the world. We tend to focus on God expelling them from the Garden but in verse 21 of Genesis, there is a beautiful touching detail that is generally overlooked. Having dismissed Adam and Eve from the Garden, we are told that “The Lord God made garments of skins for the man and his wife, and clothed them.” It mattered that they had got things wrong. Adam and Eve felt the pain and the consequences. Equally, it didn’t matter that they had got things wrong, the perennial love of the parent shines through in this protective gesture.
This is a picture of God that is often repeated and a model of parenthood that I aspire to. No matter what happens, how often mistakes are made or repeated, there is always a way back, there is always support, there is always someone to restore us.
So why the story about the chillies? Well, simple, it reminds me that if we can avoid making the same mistake again and again, we should, that is common sense. If we keep making the same mistake, although we can expect the same outcome, pain there will always be a loving father as concerned about us as the first time we made the mistake waiting to accept and comfort us. I pray that I can be that sort of dad as my children go off into the world.
I also hope I remember to take my contact lenses out before I chop chillies again.
