I think we can all agree that what makes a house a home is love. Could we describe home as a place of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22/23). When God’s spirit is present then these characteristics of God are manifest, and a “Home” is created.
Our home is therefore filled with the Spirit of God. Genesis 1 says that the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. This statement of creation is saying more than that, before (in the beginning) there was the deep waters of Chaos and the Spirit hovered and now the chaos is gone. There is a sense that there is always chaos to the cosmos that exists, the question we need to ask ourselves is are we contributing to the harm or the good, are we perpetuating chaos or peace. God’s Spirit is with us, bringing order out of chaos. I think that there is a struggle to reconcile the true nature of creation, because we superimpose our ideas of order and peace onto them. We view crisis/chaos as things being out of “our” control and not meeting our requirements.
But, there is purpose behind everything, because in order to maintain a balance you need change, for balance you need diversity, for balance you need light and dark, day and night, birth and death, cycles of life, the very things that we define as chaos. What we call unpredictability ensures consistent growth and strengthening. Observe the tree, a tree that endures a harsh winter in which growth comes to a standstill, produces a quality strong wood. Strong winds and inclement weather prune a tree and remove dead wood and leaves. Our lives are the same, what we call chaos is often the work of for creation. Do not misunderstand life simple because God’s ways are not your ways. ( Is 55:8/9)
Hardship and adversity are part of the constant unpredictability that makes life work. Drought and flood and plenty and lack, cause adaptation and diversity and a health in the ecosystem.
Look to nature and learn about life – the Spirit of God hovers over the chaos and brings order.
let us pray
Sovereign God, you have created us to care for your creation and to nurture relationships between all created beings.
Strengthen us to fill the world with the love of Christ that will make this truly a home where we can live in harmony and peace. May thy Kingdom come, one loving act at a time as we seek to take “dominion/authority/responsibility” for the world you have placed us in. May we by the power of your Holy Spirit, bring order from chaos in all that we say and do.
Amen.
