food for thought

I've been reading John Steinbeck's East of Eden for the last few weeks. I am in love with his style of writing, it is excessively relatable. I think anyone could understand it. Anyways, I just got to a part in the book where the characters are discussing the story of Cain and Abel from the Bible. I have never felt fully able to understand this story, but the characters of East of Eden put some interesting ideas on the table.

"If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And I here make this rule- a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign is not interesting-only the deeply personal and familiar", Lee said.
"Apply that to the Cain and Abel story", said Samuel.
"I think I can. I think this is the best known story in the world because it is everybody's story. I think it is the symbol story of the human soul. I'm feeling my way now-don't jump on me because it's not clear. The greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime, guilt- and there is the story of mankind. I think that if rejection could be amputated, the human would not be what he is. Maybe there would be fewer crazy people. I am sure in myself there would not be many jails. It is all there-the start, the beginning. One child, refused the love he craves, kicks the cat and hides the secret guilt; and another steals the money that will make him loved; and a third conquers the world-and always the guilt and revenge and more guilt. The human is the only guilty animal. Now wait! Therefore I think this old and terrible story is important because it is a chart of the soul- the secret, rejected, guilty, soul. "


Now, of course I cannot leave out the hope and inclusion only found in Christ, but I feel like this is me before I knew Him. It is everyone before they know him. Our greatest fear, rejection from those we love, those we look up to.

Thoughts? Feelings?