In every human being there is a curious trait. Have you ever made, directed or organized something? You know, not necessarily a great work of literature or Fortune 500 Company or a breathtaking work of art. Anything: a finger painting, a well-organized spring clean, or maybe a great photograph? I bet if you search your “archives” you can come up with at least one thing, maybe more. Children count!
Once you have that (those) item(s) in mind take a moment to reflect. Was that a good experience, was it satisfying, did it bring joy?
I don’t know about you, but I can clearly identify the moments when I actually created something as some of the most exhilarating and satisfying times in my life. Even something as small as the solution to a tough math problem or the construction of a lop sided sand castle are oddly satisfying in a kind of unexplainable way.
What is that anyway? You might be surprised to find out that this tiny, momentary emotion has mega-implications that you could never imagine. Whether we like it or not, no matter where or who we are there is one thing we share in common. That would be our species Homo sapiens.
It makes no difference where we live, what language we speak, what our color, heritage, culture, monetary status, mental status, ethic, or ethos, we are all human. It then follows that each and every one of us is a member of “Creation.” These days we have gotten to a dangerous place where we view creation as something that we are completely in charge of. We humans have usurped the role of “creator”. We build mega structures beyond our wildest dreams and if we wish, we even contract out a human being!
We have mastered creation, right?
In our society it is obvious that elements in the culture are trying their best to remove God from the public eye. The results of that couldn’t be plainer than in way the culture views the act of creating something.
“The whole world was created because of the love between the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity. The earth was created to be the womb and the cradle of Christ. Every human being was, in the Creator’s love, “another Christ”. When the Spirit breathed upon the waters , the breath as the sighing of utter love…. The meaning of creation is love, God created for love and what he created is love. It is this part of the mystery that should reform our idea of work” (Caryll Houselander, The Rise Christ, 1958, Sheed and Ward Publishers).
When we have a moment of joy at the creation of even the smallest thing, that is a tangible echo of God’s presence and order in each of us. When we deny the Fatherhood of God and replace it with our own sense of control of we radically step away from the benefits and order that God himself wants to give us. “God is a God of order not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33)”.
We self-deceive that we create for the benefit of the “brotherhood” of man when all that really matters is the reinforcement of our own sense of control and multiplication of riches.
“[This] brotherhood of Man without the fatherhood of God, will deceive even the elect. It will become a counter church which will be the ape of the Church. It will have all the notes and characteristics of the Church, but in reverse and emptied of its divine content. It will be a mystical body of the Antichrist that will in all externals resemble the mystical body of Christ. . . .” (Paraphrasing Servant of God Bishop Fulton J. Sheen in 1945).”
We sometimes wring our hands and lament the “state of the world.” What’s your own personal view of the world, your ability to “control” things? If you believe you’re in charge you need to rethink. Listen to creation in you and act on those instincts. Could it be that you’re the one God has been waiting for who will show His order and love to those around you?
Copyright 2014, Kathryn M. Cunningham
Kathryn M. Cunningham
Kathryn holds a Master’s in Education from Saint Xavier University. Most recently she completed Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from The Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. This recent degree was part of a “retirement project” after teaching for 35 years. She has also worked as a spiritual director, music minister,council member and prayer team warrior. Kathryn has a deep interest in catechesis for the people in the pews. As a “sort of” convert she finds the wisdom of the Church a source for encouragement, joy and survival in a world not sure of anything. Her writing has appeared in diocesan publications and on-line sites, most recently for Zenit. To learn more about Kathryn check out her thinking at: www.atravelersview.org">ATravelersView.org.
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