Monday, January 13, 2014

In the Beginning


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
John 1:1-18


Living here in Sitka and walking the trails that abound, it is easy to imagine beginnings in these primeval forests. Ancient trees the growth out of the deadfall of other ancient trees, the deep past whispers throughout it all. The canopy of dense forest can shut out the variegated light, and one can imagine oneself close to the beginning of time as we know it. The volcanic islands that thrust out of the cold ocean keep many secrets of the past. It is a world rich with beauty, possibility and mystery.

The Gospel of John begins with the beginning, drawing pictures of Christ as Word that has been from the beginning. The Word became flesh so that we might be forever connected to the Holy, might ever be in relationship with God, might know love that brought forth the heart of Go for all of us to know. We find in this great and ancient poetry the incredible gift that love sought us from the beginning of time and came to earth so that we might know that creative love. Almost impossible to imagine, but the Creator was acting for us from the beginning of all that is. God aching to draw us close.

Today I ask God to help me trust God's desire to draw us ever closer. May we go forth this day with the knowledge that God desires to be in relationship with us and has desired this since the beginning of time. May we have light steps and joyful hearts, trusting that God is before us and behind us in all things today.

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