Adam, Cain and the Broken Plough

The Winter Solstice had passed and the days were getting longer.  Adam noticed he could spend more time work in the fields without the light dying.

One day, his eldest son joined him.  Cain loved his father and would spend as much time as he could with him.  He watched as Adam tilled the ground.  He learnt the techniques and how to use tools to bring forth the fruits of the Earth.

But Cain was impatient.  He was quick to learn, which can often led to over-confidence.  While his father’s back was turned, he took hold of the plough and called the oxen to pull.

Due to his lack of experience, he could not control where the oxen were leading.  And soon Cain and the plough were dragged across the field in an s-shaped bend.  Eventually, the wooden frame of the plough could not take the twisted and crooked path and it soon snapped.

Upon hearing the almighty crack, Adam turned round.  He saw the broken plough, the oxen wandering off across the field and his eldest hiding in the ploughed up earth.   He called out to him.

Cain, fearing his father’s anger, ran into the hedgerow on the edge of the field.   He hid amongst the briars.

Adam walked over to where Cain lay hidden and called out to him again.  Cain remained silent.  Too fearful of the punishment he’d receive.

Adam longing called again, ‘Cain come out.  We all make mistakes.  I should know.’

Cain slowly rose up and gingerly made his way through the thorns.  Some of them pierced his skin, causing trickles of blood to drip down his side.  He walked free and headed towards his father, waiting to receive his punishment.

Instead, his father opened up his arms, pulled his firstborn close and deeply embraced him.

He whispered into Cain’s ear, “I love you”.

They let go and Adam beckoned him towards the plough.  ‘Let me teach you how to fix it, “ he said, “and it starts by saying ‘sorry’”.

Cain’s head dropped, he breathed in deeply and he quietly said, “Sorry”.

The plough was soon fixed and the father and son returned home across the fields, smiling and laughing.