Do you feel all hope is lost? This is for you.

When you look at the beginnings of our planet – whether you come from a strictly scientific view or a theological view —  planet earth started as “junk.”  Genesis calls it “a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness.” It was just a body of cosmic junk spinning into oblivion.

But this spinning orb had one thing going for it. “The Spirit of God hovered over it.”

One thing led to another, as the expression goes. This bird called “Hope” was winging its way around our sphere and landed. There was light, then movement, then animation. Biospheres swirled in a complicated, yet beautiful harmony.

And in no time, the junk was turned into jazz, and the jazz became a melody of creation.

Human Junk

When I look at my life – and likely you’ll do the same – the junk has a way of clawing at my sensibility.  Sure I was wonderfully formed, an amazing DNA twist of surprising order, but because of some terrible choices I descended back in chaos. It was like I undid the creative spark.

Still, the  bird hovered over me. The story wasn’t over.

We often use what we have lost to define who we are.

I have one friend whose online profile begins with the declaration he is a widower and a single father. While this was a monumental, painful, and instrumental part of his life, it isn’t what defines him to me. He’s smart and astute and in tune with God like few others I’ve met.

How does God see him? How does God see you?

Like this planet – that was formless in void – he saw great beauty. He saw potential. He saw an opportunity for his power.

Because he’s all about creation – and for some – recreation. He hovers and moves and sails over us, looking to land, leading us and giving us hope.

The labels you carry

How can we shake those societal  labels. Divorced. Addict. Widowed. Overweight. Unmarried. Sick.