In the cafeteria at work there is a share all book library where the week before last I picked up a book called The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. The book was based on the story of Cain and Abel, and how Cain killed Abel with a murder weapon that was never described, leaving philosophers and historians to make assumptions and guesses about the true meaning of the hebrew translation of the word "weapon" and in the end translating into texts that the weapon was a rock or tool. It is also implied that God was really angry at Cain for killing Abel and in punishment sent him to wander aimlessly in the desert for the rest of his life; ostracized.If you want to read the book don't read the spoiler below:
Well through this book, and there wasn't a dull moment about it, the characters go on a treasure hunt for what is supposed to be the actual weapon used by Cain; it having been cared for and hidden very carefully. Through the hunt revelations are made about the "weapon" and it comes to light that it was most likely a book owned by Adam, Cain wanted it, and because Cain lived before paper was invented the book was most likely an item with some sort of writing on it, like a bone, which in turn would make a good weapon. This book was given to Cain, after the murder, by God and not as a punishment but as a reminder of what he did; that what he did was wrong but that God forgave him his mistake. It is deduced by the main characters that the book wasn't a book of lies but translated as "The Book of Truth". It is also pointed out that Cain is one of the few people in the Bible whose death isn't noted (no timeline) implying that after being sent away by God he lived forever, wandering, and so potentially the found weapon would hold instructions on what to do to obtain immortality.
In the end of the book it is found that the weapon is a horn and on the horn are carved characters that like many historical items from that time period were meant to be rolled into clay, or inked and rolled onto a skin, to leave a complete impression or image. And when inked and rolled the impression left by the horn is described as "rudimentary, with poor, crude dimensions - but there's no mistaking the image of a young child sitting on his parent's lap, his father's lap - as the man whispers something in his ear. A story. A father telling his child a story. The way the father leans in close...the way the boy dips his head downward, like he's relishing every detail." The main character comes to the conclusion that "Roosevelt was right. It is a birth right - mark - a sign - the ultimate remembrance - a "book" that Adam created to pass all earthly knowledge. The instructions (to immortality) are to tell your story. The one true way to live forever." The main character then goes on to sum it up for himself: "There's the life you live and the life you leave behind. But what you share with someone else - especially someone you love - that's not just how you bury your past. It's how you write your future."
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I found this fascinating as I had just finished having a couple conversations with some co-workers about how as a parent and once a child you develop your own family values and pass them onto your children who in turn develop their own family values and pass them on to their children, and so on, and so on. And that I keep a blog as a sodu baby book for my kids that really is my legacy as to what kind of person I am. I hope in my heart that my children will read it some day and that they will have fond memories of their mother and relish some of the insight and funny stories. I hope I get to hear what they do and do not agree with and what they enjoyed the most. I think when you are young it is hard to see your parent as a person who has needs, wants, and desires, and I hope by this blog they get a deeper understanding of me, and not just one of a role model.
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