What does it mean to be salt of the earth and light of the world? 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. 16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
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"Let the earth bring forth every kind of living creature."
God elicits life out of the earth. Earth plays a vital role in the creation story. We are part of the creation story.
"Let them multiply. Be fertile and multiply."
God's creation overflows, abounds without limit. There is no thought of scarcity. Scarcity is not a concept that comes from God. God never says, "That's enough" - except when it comes to sin, because the nature of sin is that it destroys, destroys US. Destruction comes from within. You cannot hold down life. That is the story of the resurrection. LIfe keeps rising up, coming back, bursting forth.
God gives us dominion
He gives us relationship with all of creation and trusts us as caretakers and stewards. How we have lost that today. We don't feel responsible for caring for our cohabitors and family that is every living thing. This is something we need to recover. During the coronavirus lockdown, God is giving us space and time to behold , be blessed, and be awed by all he has created - from the grandest mountains and unlimited sky to the earthworms, blades of grass AND the SOUND of the wind.
CREATION STORY
How we think of God is a reflection of how we see ourselves through His eyes. The Babylonian creation story infers a lot about what the Babylonians thought of themselves, how they "valued" themselves.
The "Priestly" story of Creation in Gen 1
Goes beyond production in the detail it points out. I love the procession. So honoring and proclaims how we should relate to one another - part of a grand, living coronation. We are the royal family.
The "fanciful" nature of God.
He ENJOYS creating - and joy always exudes life, never death. Life is an act of replication, always fertile, always birthing newness. God is gifted at this. He is an amazing artist, inventor, engineer, architext, marine biologist, astronomer.
I love the detail of the small lights in the skies.
That's what we all saw at first in the history of humankind - just small lights, two-dimensional glitter on the canvas sky above us. Over time, as we developed the capacity to see beyond the canvas and reach out into "the darkness," God revealed that in him there is not darkness at all. "The light has overcome the darkness." This our same story from birth. We see things flat, have a limited world view. We keep reaching out and God shows that there is more, and his story is that there is always more life.
I imagine the LIGHT in the Israelites eyes/demeanor as they share (not tell) the Babylonians their creation story.
I love "the dirt beneath God's fingernails." Dirt isn't dirty but rich. I imagine God feeling pleasure in the dirt running through his fingers.
"The breezy parts of the day."
Reminds me of our days right now - beautiful, restoring, cool tradewinds in the late afternoon. When we walk with friends and loved ones, we don't have to speak a words, just enjoy the presence.
God misses walking with his companions in the breezy part of the day.
Shame is sin. Sin is shame. "Who told you that?" Tsk, tsk, tsk - that's not right, that's not how I see you, made you, know you.
God is sewing garments.
Wow! He wants to cover our shame. But shame is interior not exterior. In thinking about our shame, what do we need to throw off?
PERSONAL REFLECTION
How can I renew and revise my image of myself because of this much more expansive, life-giving, delightful image of God? What is God's relationship with me if he sees me as good, trustworthy, that he enjoys walking with me in the breezy part of the day? Where have I limited myself where God has set no limits? As God shows me how to reshape my image of myself, can I extend that same kindness to others? What can do better in caring for creation?
Small tender care. I am moved to tears by the Creator of countless galaxies sewing clothes for Adam and Eve.
I responded to the Idea that this was a liturgical version of the creation story with surprise. I can see that now but It never occurred to me to see it as Priestly. And I am not totally sure I resonate positively with that idea. Still the Great Procession has it appeal.
The story has such a powerful poetic cadence about it and it comes close to describing how things came to be... aside from the Time Factor.
And then God saying it is Very Good and then Resting. And commanding us to rest. I’m jumping ahead — but God creating Sabbath Rest as a gift to us is so creative! This is not a God saying “work harder”, “DO MORE!!” No, this is a God saying Rest. And the graciousness of modeling God taking a rest. Alas it is gift that most of us have failed to receive. And now many of us have been taken into a Sabbath rest involuntary.
And giving us the responsibility for CARING for this Creation. All creatures! Including the creepy crawling ones. In the web of life ALL have parts to play. I want to cry as I write that....and think of our abuse of Land, Sea and Sky. And our disrespect for one another.
After a period of contrition— hope springs up. Change ME, God. Let me start with me...the turning to You. The faith that Nothing is impossible to You.
God reveals artistic nature in the beauty of creation and in the beautiful moments of life
God’s love of beauty is a source of joy and hope for me
God breathes life into us
I need to remember and feel God breathing life into me everyday
Might I celebrate that every Breath I take, I breathe in You
Genesis Creation always gave me a sense of identity
I am made in the image of God and belong to God
The image of God gifts me with the capacity to creative, loving, forgiving, compassionate, wise,
I am made to be connected - to not be alone - to be connected with God and others
Genesis Creation story leads me to embrace that God gives us creation for a time to enjoy and care for - These stories invite me to be good steward of creation- God’s beautiful gift to us