“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” – Genesis 1:1-2 NASB

 

It was the picture of disorganization and uncertainty, for the world had no order. Everything was “formless and void.”  As the Hebrew word for moving indicates the Spirit of God was brooding…examining…lingering. God is a creative force that lingers in the energy of chaos to redeem it for a purpose. God does not rush to certainty or from disorder. God experiences the depth of darkness to generate the luminosity of light. 

 

Often we can feel overwhelmed by chaos. Our hope may be wavering due to apparent communal disregard for justice and life. Our confidence in congregational certainty may be uneasy due to change, transitions and unrest. And even our dream for our best lives may seem lost due to strained resources of time and money.  These situations produceanxiety when we feel ill equipped to manage the chaos. Stewardship…moving beyond the chaos campaign will create a four week opportunity to learn how to tolerate anxiety, to see opportunity in the midst of chaos and to discover the gift of creativity to bring peace from anxiety, purpose from uncertainty and order from chaos.