Ukraine

Column by Dr. Carl Krieg on 3 March 2022 1 Comments

Although the intelligence indicated a Russian invasion was imminent, most of the people of the world, including Ukraine, continued on with life as usual. Then, in an instant, Russian tanks started rolling into a peaceful, non-threatening neighboring country, triggering the first such move of its kind in Europe since WW2.

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Question

How do you explain the beginning of creation? What, if anything, existed before the universe? Jesus lived and died, and did many great things, but the Son of God… who or what is God? 

Answer

Dear Larry,

Thank you for this enticing series of questions!  Throughout the ages, early humans from various tribes and living in different regions of the world have offered many versions of origin stories – how we were created, and from where we came.  The creation stories that move me most are the ones that begin in love.  I believe that, whether an ancient story or quantum physics, the beginning of creation might best be explained as an incomprehensible pouring forth of love, resulting in this ever-expanding universe filled with everything we know and all that we cannot.   No-thing and Everything existed before the universe because it was solely, singularly, purely Love.  That is all.  In his dazzling poem, Love Letter to the Milky Way, Drew Dellinger writes, “I want to tell you about love… Even the word ‘love’ is not adequate to define the force that wove the fabric of space and time.”

During his walk on Earth, Jesus did a provocative job of embodying this love.  It’s a fierce love.  It only thrives with diversity and becomes stronger when shared generously.  This has been and always will be our invitation: to walk in the world as bringers of this love.  Jesus did it so well that we are still telling stories about it, studying it, and looking for more and better ways to be this love now… and now… and right now.

Rather than conceptualizing God as a who or a what, I try to remember myself to this love.  It is the source that birthed me, it is my teacher while I’m alive on earth and, someday when my breathing stops, this love will be my eternal home.  Your questions take us to vast horizons, Larry.  Jesus helped us to recognize that this vast love is knowable and tangible in our daily, ordinary acts.  The GREAT in the small (Mark 4:30-32).  May we all be awakened and at peace as we take on countless small acts while bringing great and vast love.

~ Rev. Lauren Van Ham

 

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