The Beginning

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. -Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning, God. It doesn't get much simpler than that, and not much more profound. While we can debate the "Origin of Species" (Darwin) or the "Intelligent Design" (contemporary Christian fundamentalism) what really at stake in these first lines of the Bible is whether or not we acknowledge God as the primary actor in all creation.

It really is, or should be a humbling thought that despite our advances in technology and rhetoric that God still stands as Creator-Father-Gracious Parent over all matter and all beings. The details, which we so enjoy poking eyes out over may matter, but what stands at the beginning and runs throughout the witness of Scripture and Time is God and God's desires for God's creation and creatures. Maybe if we began with that thought at the beginning of our discussions, conversations and debates over the Beginning then we would have a different outcome; would we not?

And maybe if we began our day or our daily tasks or our first listening opportunities with those whom we love and those with whom we come in contact throughout the day with the words "In the beginning, God" stuck somewhere deep and ever-present in our mind and heart; maybe then all the interactions we have throughout the day would be full of more of the Shalom of God instead of all the rest. What do you think?