“In the beginning God began to create . . .” 
The book of Genesis begins with mythical and legendary primeval stories of how things came to exist. These narratives look back in time to the beginnings of the cosmos and of the first humans to the one true creator God intervening in creation and human history. They reflect Israel’s foundational beliefs. All Christian, Judaic and Islamic Scripture and tradition developed and written over centuries begin here.

“In the Beginning was The Big Bang.”
From telescopes in deep space, data prove Galaxies, everything in space, are moving away from each other in an expanding universe. Looking back in time from this data to about fifteen thousand million years ago, the universe began from a singular concentrated state in an explosive expansion of matter. All matter, everything that ever exists in the space/time continuum, comes from this explosive beginning called “The Big Bang.”

Faith tells me the one true God creates and sustains all things, seen and unseen, from the very beginning of space and time. From that beginning, God continually sends forth the Spirit of wisdom and love into the universe, into human history, into us and renews all things.
Science tells me the “big bang” is a valid theory that space and time begins at that singularity; the very beginning of all matter, including over eons of time evolution of all living things, leading to us.

Everything that ever exists comes from that explosive beginning.
Here are two concepts that seem opposed to each other that I believe are both true realities of how everything came to be: that God from the beginning created all things, and the scientific conclusion that it all started with the “big bang.”

We might ask why did the universe begin in this way; an explosive expansion of matter from a single concentrated point?  We might ask why did God, perfect in every way, in need of nothing outside of himself, who exists before time and space, decided to create all this and in this way?

I don’t think these are the right questions. We should ask what is the meaning to all this? First there was nothing, then there was something. And for all we know there will always be something.
Common sense tells us time moves forward. The universe and all life are on a cosmic trajectory ever forward in time and space. I think the meaning of the universe and of life is encompassed in the mystery of what is to come in the forward flow of time. I believe that mystery lies in God’s love for all creation.

God continually renews creation from the beginning not by immutable design but by allowing creation to happen and to move forward. From our beginning God gifted us free will allowing us to self-design our own lives for good or ill. We can only anticipate with patience and faith what the future will be. We can only depend on God’s wisdom and love that allows creation and us to move toward what is to come.
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And what is to come, based on Faith, trusting in God’s word through Christ Jesus, is eternal and abundant life abiding in God’s inexhaustible love with him.

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  John 3:8

Could it be? Paul Simon, songwriter and singer, a modern psalmist? “God comes up a lot in my songs.” Paul Simon quote

The word “psalm’ comes from the Greek “psalmos,” in Hebrew “mizmor,” a song recited to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument. Psalms are sung poetic songs, extended musical compositions. Many of Simon’s lyrics to me meet that definition. Most of the songs sung by Simon and Garfunkel are accompanied by guitars.

Most likely it wasn’t the powerful wind of Pentecost that opened his mind to the Spirit as he wrote his songs. Did the Spirit come to him as a soft, quiet breeze, an inspirational presence, a gift, a mysterious, intentional act of God? The Spirit “blows where it chooses,” and we do not know when or where or how.

Simon and Garfunkel’s greatest hit, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970), to me meets the definition of a psalm. You can hear in their combined voice as they soar and sweep in this great panegyric of hope and sacrifice, a hymn, a psalm, to be sung and read aloud.
Could it be, these verses from The Book of Psalms prefigure these lyrics: “Sing to him a new song: play skillfully on strings; with loud shouts”  Psalm 33:3; or “I will sing to the Lord for he has dealt bountifully with me.”?  Psalm 13: 6

“When you’re weary feeling small. When tears are in your eyes. I will dry them all. I’m on your side. When times get rough. And friends just can’t be found.  Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down.
When you’re down and out. When you’re on the street. When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you.  I’ll take your part.
When darkness comes, and pain is all around.  Like a bridge over troubled water.  I will lay me down. Like a bridge over troubled water. I will lay me down.
Sail on, silvergirl. Sail on by.  Your time has come to shine.  All your dreams are on their way.  See how they shine. If you need a friend, I’m sailing right behind. Like a bridge over troubled water. I will ease your mind. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.”

Every time I hear this song, I know Jesus, the one who died for me, the one God raised up for me, is speaking to me: “I will lay me down;" “I will comfort you;” “I am right behind you;” “I will dry your tears;” “I’m on your side;" “I will take your part;” “I will ease your mind;” “I will lay me down.”

In today’s world, on our faith journey we sail through troubled water. But we sail on, and with prayerful discernment, we look in unfamiliar places, listen to unfamiliar voices. Voices that we find somehow in mystery and wonder speak to us of God’s grace and of God’s gift of uncompromising love in Christ Jesus.

Post Script:
“And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson. Jesus loves you more than you will know, God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson. Heaven holds a place for those who pray,”