From the Rector…
“In the beginning… the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep.” (Genesis 1:1) For some, the void and darkness are poetic language meant to illicit the idea of chaos. God’s first creative act is to take that chaos and bring order to it. Throughout the Old Testament, we see allusions to this theme of ordering chaos.
In scripture, water often serves as a metaphor for chaos and God “orders” that chaos in various ways. In creation, God breathes over the “face of the waters.” The flood story illustrated both disordering and ordering chaos. Moses parts the Red Sea—a divinely directed miracle that ultimately swallows up God’s foes in the chaos. Jonah finds himself in a storm at sea, thrown overboard and swallowed by a whale—his refusal to heed God’s call plunges him into chaos, which is only resolved when he is spit out on the beach, ready to follow God’s directive. Even the Apostle Paul gets shipwrecked—a sign of the chaos that engulfs him after being arrested and taken to stand trial before Caesar.
The psalms are rich in water imagery. At times, the psalmist describes feelings of drowning or being overwhelmed by floods, depicting chaos and turmoil that threaten them. Unlike other biblical narratives, God doesn’t always bring order to the waters of the psalmist’ despair. These waters often seem uncontrollable, and we may not always know the outcome of the psalmist’ cry for help and salvation. We do, however, know the hope they desire.
If the psalms teach us anything, it is the importance of hope and trust in God. Much of the water imagery in the psalms conveys peace, reminding us of God’s provision, renewal, and blessing. The Twenty-third psalm, perhaps the most famous, speaks of God “leading [us] beside still waters.” This image emphasizes God’s care and concern for his “sheep.” There are also several instances where God quenches our thirst, highlighting the true nature of God as provider and sustainer. These images nurture our hope and trust in God, even as they are juxtaposed with the more chaotic images of water.
Holding the chaotic imagery of water in tension with its stillness offers us a more holistic vision and understanding of who God truly is. We may desire a God that is all rainbows and butterflies, but our experiences tell a different story. God is not a tame god nor is his creation. But he is good. When we trust in that goodness, we realize that the waters of chaos may be threatening but they are not damning.
These past few days, our screens have been filled with apocalyptic scenes of water and its chaotic, destructive force. The images of flooding from Florida to the Carolinas and their aftermath are devastating. In such moments, it is natural to question God: Why does God allow such destruction and loss of life and property? Though we cannot know the answer, grappling with these questions help us embrace the mystery of God.
Too often we attempt to control God—desiring a deity that works within certain parameters or expected ways that we as mortals can comprehend, allowing us to exercise some power and agency. Yet, when disaster strikes, we find ourselves powerless to save ourselves or others. We turn to God in prayer and assume a compassionate stance, helping our neighbors and realizing our interdependence. Although images of water have flooded our feeds these past few days, so have images of those who bring aid and rescue.
I believe it was Mr. Rogers’ mother who said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” This is not merely a comforting platitude for children or adults; it reflects a deep and abiding truth about who God created us to be. Sadly, it sometimes takes a disaster for us to remember that we are made for relationships, to help one another, and to lift each other up rather than tear one another down. God will order chaos—and if we are already living an ordered life, we can view chaos as an opportunity to help rather than as a source of threat or fear.
Light and Life,
Candice+