chute. But even beyond the heartless murder and the lack of love, nobody knows of a passion to pursue, books do not exist, and life is so structured that it is difficult to see the use in living it. People are shielded from suffering, but there is simply nothing worth suffering for. This idea has been exploited countless times in art and literature—it seems a topic that remains always on the human mind.
Adam and Eve discovered things that they had not known before, that they had not been allowed to reach: knowledge and passion. It is interesting that a part of what God called sin is what we call joy. What he called paradise is what we call complacency. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were content, but outside of it, they were human. They were in love. Their minds were open to knowledge and growth. But they were also If we were all handed a magic wand and told to vulnerable in so many ways. Are happiness and build our own personal utopias, designed to conquer freedom contingent upon suffering? If so, is it worth the deepest desires of our souls and satisfy all that the trade off? Or is it better to exist passively—with we need, it remains doubtful that anybody would no pain but also no golden moments? be able to do so. Each person’s idyll is distinct, even from one’s closest companions. One could But as I ponder this further, I find myself wondering not expect that their dream world would align what the difference between genuine happiness and completely with that of everybody they love. And the illusion of happiness actually is. If happiness is, so, either people are lonely, or they compromise. in its truest form, a feeling of complete contentment Yet compromising doesn’t seem to be in the and the living of a life that brings a person a description of a utopia. So, what? We have clones sense of excitement, it is simply an emotion. And made of our best friends and convince ourselves if a person is under the impression that they are they’re the real thing? This approach is merely experiencing said emotion, how is it any different ignorance, and ignorance, however blissful it may from the reality? Blissful ignorance, certainly, be, is not a state in which I involves a lack of awareness would like to exist. There is concerning the world and the always a catch. Always. unpleasantness inherent in existence, but it satisfies the And yet, there are two people, illusion of happiness. Perhaps two figures both remarkably that is all that is needed— famous and infamous, who ignorance, illusions, and have supposedly existed in ultimately, contentment. paradise: Adam and Eve. According to the legend, the Surely there is more to joy than pair existed happily in the that, though. The difference Garden of Eden, simply going must then be that a person can about life in a state of peace not know genuine happiness and contentment, never truly if they have not suffered. One troubled with the burden of cannot appreciate the sun until being human. And yet, Adam they have been cold, or water and Eve never experienced any until their mouth has been dry. fervent degree of happiness. It is as a rainbow after a storm; They simply existed in constant one must see the bad to earn contentment—something quite something rare and lovely. apart from joy. They were It is almost as if life is more ignorant to knowledge and enjoyable with pain. It is very would never be able to feel the wonder of learning possible that we find a sort of glorifying satisfaction or the satisfaction of producing an idea. They were in suffering. Or maybe, subconsciously, we simply there, wanting for nothing but also knowing appreciate its necessity. It is a muddling paradox. of nothing to want. What changed? Simply put,
To suffer is to persist—and the power of persistence is invaluable. If we suffer through pain, if we suffer through darkness, if we suffer through sorrow, we are living despite it all.
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