Luci Shaw. Illustrations by Sr. Huai-Kuang Miao and Sr. Mary Lane. Paraclete Press BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS

Transcription

1 Luci Shaw Illustrations by Sr. Huai-Kuang Miao and Sr. Mary Lane Paraclete Press BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS

2 2006 First Printing Text copyright 2006 by Luci Shaw Illustrations copyright 2006 by The Community of Jesus, Inc. ISBN: X Calligraphy by Sr. Martha Clark Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Shaw, Luci. The Genesis of it all / Luci Shaw ; illustrations by Sr. Huai-Kuang Miao and Sr. Mary Lane. p. cm. ISBN X (hard cover) 1. Creation Biblical teaching Juvenile literature. 2. Bible stories, English O.T. Genesis. I. Miao, Huai-Kuang, Sr. II. Lane, Mary, Sr. III. Title. BS651.S ' dc All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Published by Paraclete Press Brewster, Massachusetts Printed in Singapore Right at the very beginning, 2

3 Right at the very beginning, God made everything that is. It was the first time, and it wasn t easy. In fact, from a vast nothing God made a something. Very tricky. But God did it.

4 What God did was see something in his imagination, and speak it, and it became real. God flung both arms wide and embraced deep space, then bent and squeezed it, twisting it and pulling it like dough, then flinging it wide in great spirals of energy. It surged out hugely, flashing, exploding into the dark with a thunderous blast universes, galaxies, nebulae. It was so hot God had to blow on it to cool it as it spun away. 4

5 It was the first time, and it wasn t easy, but God did it. We don t know how God did it. We weren t there to see. 5

6 Then God thought, and the bits of matter began to glow with creative energy and to fill all the cracks of space with their bright sparks. This delighted God like fireworks. God s face shone with joy. He thought, I ll call this glow of light Da, 6

7 and the dark between I ll call. This was, in fact morning and evening. God had made a Day, ever. 7

8 The chaotic jumble was beginning to make sense, like a messy room beginning to be picked up and organized. 8

9 We don t quite know how God did it. We weren t there to see. 9

10 Then God did some more organizing, pulling apart the strands of matter in space. It was still fluid watery above, and watery underneath. The dome of space between the two, God called Sky. What he had done, this morning and evening, was. It was a huge job, far from easy. But God did it. We don t know how God did it all. But it all got done, even though we weren t there to see. 10

11 Next, God thought about pulling and pushing and re-arranging the solid bits, and as these thoughts became words, spoken aloud, things began to fall into place on what was to become our world dry places and wet places that he called Continents and Oceans. God was delighted with the result. 11

12 H mm, God said. Now we need some color. I think...green! And as God breathed on the Earth the breath that brings life into being, things like asparagus began to show up all over the Earth, and parsley, and horsetails and palm trees and grasses with blowing seed-heads, and persimmons and peaches and pomegranates with their seeds hidden inside. 12

13 God was exhilarated. It was all so picturesque and interesting. It seemed just right. This morning and evening was. 13

14 Next, God thought of marking Time and dividing it, telling Sun to show up for Day bright and yellow to flood everything with light, 14

15 and Moon to show up for Night pale and silver, so the world could sleep. Day and Night began to follow each other in a regular way, first one and then the other, forming days and months and seasons and years. God was excited. It was really happening! What was begun that morning and evening was. It wasn t easy, but God did it. It was a mystery, so we don t know how it happened. We weren t there to see. 15

16 Next, God thought about things that move about quite distinct from the slow vegetables and fruits. There was a lot of water, so it seemed a good place to start. God thought, I ll breathe whales and dolphins and sharks and salmon and squid and oysters with pearly shells. 16

17 And there they were! 17

18 Once the water was boiling with all the swimming that was going on, God began to fill the air around Earth with more breath so that bright whirrings and wings appeared in the wind, as parrots and pigeons and finches began to dart and swoop and flash their colors. Oh, this is wonderful! God thought. So lovely, and quite original. is working out well; I ve made something out of nothing! And God made it possible for all these creatures to birth more creatures out of their own bodies, so that the earth and water and air were kept alive with life. 18

19 This God did on the morning and the evening of. 19

20 Then God said, The sea s overflowing with life and the air s stirring with life. Now, for the dry land. 20

21 God thought a while, then shouted, I ve got it! We already have vegetables, and fish and birds growing. But now, And as this thought flowed out in another creative breath, colossal dinosaurs and ponderous mammoths and haughty camels and golden gazelles and horses with manes and tails flying filled the plains and the forests. 21