Speak hope and mercy, speak justice and truth, say what you believe that will heal and help. Now is not the time to be quiet, for there is an ocean of listening all around you,  waiting for the word of life. – Steven Charleston

        If you are of the opinion that the creation story in Genesis is an accurate rendering of events, I have some disappointing news, it isn’t. When we treat this story as the literal truth, we miss the Spirit that moves within its words.
        “And God said…” is one of the key areas where we miss the truth that lies within the words. God, being omnipotent, could have chosen any method of creation, but he chose to use speech. Theologically, this ties in with Jesus being the creative force of God, thus he is the “word.” But there is a deeper significance behind God speaking the world into being.  

  It is often said that people will not remember what you said to them, but how you made them feel. There is some truth to that, but it also sets aside a truth. Those moments of deep regret that I have are based on how I made people feel, always resulted from what I said to them. It is through my words that I can hurt or heal.

The lesson behind God speaking the world into creation, is understanding that we create by what we say. Yes, it is important to listen, people need to be heard. But what we say is equally important. What I say expresses who I am in the world, who I chose to be. It is through what I say to you, that expresses your worth. It is through our words that we create. By choosing well my words I can create beauty.

First, we create for the person to whom we are speaking. Even in the brief encounter with a cashier, or someone we pass by, or hold the door for, we create. Our words can offer a respite from the word around us that seems to be increasingly angry and isolating. Those we meet are all listening for words that let us know that we matter, that we count. When it is us that have spoken those words, it is a blessing.

Secondly, we create for ourselves. Our words also impact us. Especially on those days when we ourselves might be feeling fearful and discouraged. A kind word echoes back like rings on a pond. The response in the person in front of us, creates in us as well. As it has been said, “The world is full of kind people, if you can’t find one, be one.”

We are told that in the beginning God created the world through speech. We are also told that we are created in the image of God. By this, I believe that it is in our ability to create that makes us divine. We now can create by speaking into being hope, mercy, and love. By doing so reminds us that we are not powerless within this world. It is by our words we create.

Anyway, that is my opinion.