Creation Stories

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ...

-- Genesis 1:1

 

In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, ...

-- Genesis 2:4b

 

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

-- Job 38:4

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

--John 1

 

 

Our sacred texts tell a number of creation stories.  The poetic power of the scripture reveals a world beginning.  Why do we love these scriptures, songs, and epics? 

 

Religion finds a way to experience phenomena as seen in the light of the divine.  We find deep beauty, words to express our wonder, and the sense that someone else stands with us, seeing it all, and finding that it is good!

Nunc Dimittis

Are you familiar with this passage?

'Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.'

It comes from the second chapter of Luke and, since Luke is such a
good read, you might pull out your Bible and read the whole chapter
to get the context. They are the words, a song really, from an old
man. His name is Simeon.

When Simeon sang his song, he had just held a baby in his arms. It
is the only moment of his life we know about at all and the reason we
know is because the baby was Jesus. What happened to Simeon after
this moment is anybody's guess. I'd like to think that he lived on
for some years, long enough, perhaps, for Mary or Joseph or even
Jesus to catch a glimpse of him moving through the streets the way
old men move, shining through the daylight the way one shines who has
seen God at work in his own life.