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It Is Good Genesis 1 – 2:4a; Matthew 28:16 – 20 Margaret Guenther, professor and spiritual director (My Soul in Silence Waits. Cambridge: Cowley Publications. 2000. P. 64) claims that the children’s book, The Runaway Bunny, has a special place in her theological library. This is “the story of an adventurous little rabbit and his mother. Whenever he announces that he will run away, his unflappable, all-loving mother replies that she will follow him. If he becomes a fish, she will become a fisherman. If he becomes a rock, she will be a mountain climber and climb to where he is. If he becomes a crocus, she will be a gardener and find him.” That indefatigable mother bunny – God? – has an answer for everything. Finally, the runaway capitulates and announces, ‘Shucks, I might as well stay where I am.’ ‘Have a carrot,’ says his mother. As I read that little story — and realized Dr. Guenther was undoubtedly correct in linking the mother bunny to the divine presence who will always be able to find us no matter where we flee — I was also struck with the idea of the baby bunny even thinking that a change to become a fish, a rock or a crocus was possible. Most of us haven’t had such a thought. No, we are too grown-up to think that we could (or even would want) to be a fish, a rock or a crocus, but every one of us has wished, dreamed, tried to be something (someone) we were not meant to be. Why is it we are not satisfied with what we ought to be doing — ought to be — and clamor for something else: some other state in life; a place where we can be more in control? The wonderful and well-known scripture of today helps us remember our place in the creation — our role in this universe. Before we dive into the first creation account in Genesis, let me remind you that it was written for the Jewish people when they were in exile...when they wondered if they would ever again see the light, smell the trees, or feel the soil of their beloved homeland. This story was written to remind them that God had created everything as it should be. God was in control, and God would continue to care for them and was quite able to create a new life for them even when things seemed as grim as they were. Most creation stories - especially those written in the Middle East – answer several questions:
God is the one in this story who speaks and the light comes;
God is the one who brought all of this into being. God is the one who claimed it all good. God is the one to designate each aspect of this life to its appropriate place — and its’ appropriate work or duty — from:
And then there is humankind — according to this story — the last to be spoken into being and with an interesting command. Most translations have the words for ‘our’ work as subdue and have dominion. “We (humankind) are to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Subdue and have dominion — English translations that confuse the issue, in my opinion. Hebrew word ‘kabas’ — which has been translated subdue — really means cultivation: to help grow. Hebrew word ‘rada’ — which has been translated “have dominion” — really means care-giving: nurturing. These Hebrews, who had been captured and oppressed by their enemies — wondering if they would ever get back to their home...wondering if God truly was caring for them...and surely wondering why they had become victim to another people — didn’t need to hear that any humans’ ‘job in life’...in the order and scheme of the universe was to have dominion over, or be able to exploit another people. In this tale of creation, they came to understand that their task was to care for, have responsibility for, nuture, and take charge of the well-being of the rest of the creation. That was what God desired from humanity…that was what God claimed was right and good! God would care for everything else. God had done it before, and God would do it again. The creation story was a story of hope for a people who were living in sadness and darkness. The creation story was a reminder of God’s claim that all was good…and all would be good… and in all things, it would be good. My very first ‘employment’ was as a baby-sitter. I was just 11 and the neighbor asked me to watch her baby one afternoon. I was suddenly thrust into the role as the 'responsible one’ in a way that I had never known before. No one trained me for such a task — and looking back I am terrified of what I did not know — and what could have happened under ‘my charge!’ The ministry has provided incredible opportunities to ‘be responsible.’ The privilege of:
As I look back on changing that first diaper at 11 — or accompanying people as they have traveled the most pivotal moments in their lives — I honestly have no idea how that was done nor do I have a plan on how to do it one more day! And yet, that is my experience of ‘being responsible’ and ‘taking charge’ of that which God has placed in front of me. Think about your history…think about your present. Our call, if we are to take this passage...this creation story seriously, is to ‘be responsible’ and ‘take care’ of that which God has created...that which God has claimed as good...that to which God has given life and breath and activity. The reason, I believe, we are in this sanctuary on any given Sunday or midweek is because we have heard that call on our lives. We have heard that call and we are wanting to respond to the ministry of responsibility — the stewardship of God’s creation...the care taking of that part of the creation that we know and love — which is an ever-widening circle of influence. We do not have the ‘job’ of calling any life into existence. We do not have the ‘job’ of calling the parts of the universe into their specific role. We do not have the ‘job’ of breathing life into something that has no life. We are not God. We do have the responsibility of nurturing gifts when they may be faltering or shy. We do have the responsibility of extending the love that God has already shown to us. We do have the responsibility of fanning the flame of creativity when the embers may be getting cold. This creation story was a helpful reminder to those long ago who wondered if a loving God had forgotten them, and wondered how God would be able to provide a new life out of the shambles in which they lived. This creation story is a wonderful and awesome story for us today...to remind us of our responsibilities: Not to BE God...not to be a fish, a rock or a crocus.... but to be humankind...made in God’s image...to care for all that God has created...to be stewards of the earth and all its bits and pieces...to be servants given the charge of care to tend to the needs of those around us. And God said…it is good! SW |
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