Original Sin

St. Augustin told a story from his youth to illustrate the pervasive and gratuitous corruption of the human will. He remembered sneaking into a pear orchard with a group of friends. Once there, they plucked the ripe pears from the branches and, instead of eating even a single one, cast them over the wall where they spoiled on the ground or were eaten by animals. Their nighttime exercise displayed a human tendency to take joy in what is damaging and wasteful.

We have been trying to teach Gwendolyn not to toss food over the edge of her high-chair tray. She's not yet in the phase where she really throws food; she just holds a chunk over the edge between two fingers and drops it.

A few days ago Sara had been giving Gwendolyn chunks of fruit out of a canned fruit cocktail. Our daughter displayed a preference for the peach chunks over the pineapple and pear. Near the end of the meal, when she was playing with her food more than eating it, Gwendolyn began to dangle chunks over the edge of her tray table.

"On the tray," said her mother, tapping the gooey plastic surface with a finger.

Without breaking eye contact with her mother, and using what appeared to be practiced care, Gwendolyn carried a chunk of pear between two fingers and set it right on the downward-sloping edge of the tray table.

I think we're in trouble.

~emrys