A good story starts with the beginning. The first book in the Bible is our beginning. The book of Genesis tells of creation. The Genesis story does not begin with us as lead characters. Rather the earth is formed and shaped with darkness and then light. Fire accompanied light and water bringing into being oceans, rivers and streams.
Water is made available to all living species as a necessary primal element. Then. along with water there is earth, fire and wind. Furthermore, according to Genesis “a wind from God” swept over the creation and brought about temperatures complementing the further development of species of animals, birds, and yielding seeds and trees of every kind bearing fruit.
It is in Genesis we read of God breathing into the creation of man and woman the “breath of life” which can be translated as the soul thereby providing us with a God-given identity. In fact, we are told God created us in the image of God. It does not mean we look like God, but it does mean imbedded within us is a characteristic found in our souls that is responsible for the care of creation.
This understanding in the practice of stewardship brings us to the beginning of our story as we now look at the birds of the air and recognize our place in creation alongside the Creator and the primal elements of life.
In grade school, we learned should the size of the earth be a fraction larger the change in gravity would prevent gases like methane and ammonia from dispersing into the atmosphere. Living creatures would be unable to breathe. Should the foundations of earth be smaller in size, the pull of gravity is less. Water vapor would not appear on earth. Life would dry up and die. This is not doomsday reporting. It is a recognition of the miracle found in the earth upon its foundations. And we can’t help but wonder who is behind this miracle.
So here I am on a cruise ship. Yes, I am in the lap of luxury. But there is more going on. In fact, there is always more going on with God. Just when you think you have God figured out and put in a box—surprise—there is more to God!
There is something about God who joined me recently on a cruise ship. God caught my attention and got me thinking. Looking out at the ocean, the sun and the big blue sky, I was reminded creation didn’t just happen. There is a creator whose name is God.
It is the beginning not only of God’s story but we are introduced in our story with God. God can be found in all things. I believe we meet God everywhere. Yes, God shows up when we expect God to be present like in church and in worship and in our prayers and spiritual life. It is what we expect. But watch God when the divine is present when we least expect it. Watch, and start again in the beginning.
