Onward - from the beginning. Today I realized that the 'connection' part of the devotion is not needed as it seems I am doing that in what I'm writing for the day. From yesterday In my faithful imagination, God is completely vulnerable from the beginning. Why take the time to create - why invest in something over which you are not going to want complete control - why call everything good even when everything is about to stumble? The love of God is vulnerable from the beginning. I don't think many folks like this kind of vulnerable God. This is a God who creates and then really takes a chance with us. From the beginning we can be and do as we please - and we do. Adam and Eve take the lead on this. They go ahead and eat. They go ahead and seek to take the wheel and drive things in the manner of their choosing. God does not put a fence around that 'special' tree in the garden. Rather, God seems to go off and take a nap. God is vulnerable to the ways we will go. And yet, even when we choose to be like God and spend each day of our lives trying to be in control of the world around us - and even the world of others - God remains vulnerable. This beginning vulnerability is the shape of God's relationship with us all along the way. At the beginning of each moment we are invited to trust in this God who is willing to be crushed by us - again. That invitation into the garden of 'trust in God alone' never ends. We must remember that always - behind us - is our God who never leaves. God does not stay around trying to find out who is 'naughty or nice' - that's not our God. Instead when God is behind us, God is a place to rest - God is the power of life that gives us the opportunity to take off. When the love of God is the beginning, it is in place and it is immovable. That is what brings about all of creation in the first place. That love is the constant - the steady walkway. We may look out into this day and be frightened by what we see or the things we hear. That is quite normal. And yet, there is a part of our storytelling that says stay put - rest - breathe - remember. This is a moment for life to be shaped by what is handed to us before the day even began - not by what appears to be coming at us. The love of God as the beginning of things O God of love and new life, help us to breath and rest and remember that in this day you will be with us and from within the grasp of your love, we will boldly live in your ways. Amen. |
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