Genesis 1:1-5

The creation narratives in the book of Genesis (in both chapters one and two) prompt readers to stretch their minds as they seek to comprehend the majesty and power of God, who is the creator of all that is. I have personally spent hours upon hours just trying to wrap my head around the first sentence of our Holy Scriptures, which inform us that in the beginning (whenever that was) there was God, and nothing else. “Formless void” are the English words used to communicate this nothing-else-but-God reality. And in the face of void, God’s first act is to speak light into existence. We learn that void is not meant to stay void, but it is meant to be filled, specifically, with light, which is good.

Over the last few years I have grown increasingly discontent with binary ways of thinking (ie: ‘two-wayed’ thinking), in large part because I believe those ways of categorizing, or processing, or discerning, are oftentimes incapable of providing the fullest picture of what might be taking place in a given situation. We are far more comfortable making quick conclusions of ‘red or blue,’ ‘right or left,’ ‘proper or improper,’ or, in the example at hand, ‘light or darkness.’ Binary, two-wayed, this-or-that ways of thinking are quick, easy, and often subconsciously instinctual. At their best they tell a partially-complete story; at their worst they foster divisiveness.

Regarding the examples of ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ when it comes to processing the human-spiritual experience, we often regard ‘light’ as any particular thing or condition that is considered to be either good, or positive, or pure, or life-giving, or perhaps even holy (in a sense). We might associate the concept of light in moments where love, or compassion, or reconciliation is on display, or in places of comfort, provision, and harmony. For different people, there are different people, places, and things that represent ‘light’ to them.

Conversely, we often regard ‘darkness’ as any particular thing or condition that is considered to be either bad, or negative, or impure, or life-taking (or, life-ending), or perhaps even demonic (in a sense). We might associate the concept of darkness in moments where hate, or anger, or destruction is on display, or in places of discomfort, scarcity, and unrest. For different people, there are different people, places, and things that represent ‘darkness’ to them.

But I think, when it comes to the people, places, and things of this world, there is not only ‘light’ and ‘darkness,’ but there is ‘void’ as well. Surely there are scenes where nearly every person, regardless of place in the world, could agree on what might be ‘light’ or ‘darkness.’ For example, most humans have a shared intuition to recognize the ‘light of peace’ and the ‘darkness of war.’ But I believe just the same, perhaps even more than we might realize, there is ‘void’ all around us.

When I think about ‘void,’ I think about loneliness, or neglect, or abandonment. I think about unrealized potential. I think about apathy and numbness. When I think about ‘void,’ I think about a person, or a place, or a thing, that has not-yet been claimed by anyone or anything; that does not have anything positive, or negative going on – there is nothing going on.

In the beginning, God faced a void, and I think today, if we were actually honest with ourselves, and allowed ourselves to think for more than a few split-seconds, we would realize we are surrounded by void. It is so easy to think, “If someone or something is not for what I want, then they or it is against what I want.” We quickly think that if ‘whatever’ does not project the light we think it should then it must be cloaked in darkness. But that is wrong, and it just does not tell the whole story.

I think there are far more people who have not had ‘light spoken over them,’ and who are not ‘living in darkness,’ but, in reality, they have just been ignored. No one wants anything to do with them, and so they are left to the void. I think there are far more places and things that are actually experiencing ‘darkness.’ Rather, I think there are tons of places and things that no one has bothered to reach out to, or give attention to, or do the hard (or, sometimes easy!) work of caring for, and so they are left to the void.

When you think about ‘void’ in this way, can you recognize it in your corner of the world, somewhere? Does a person come to mind? Does a neighborhood or block in your city come to mind? Where is the neglect? Where is the apathy? Those people, and those places, and those things, are in the void.

It is important to remember that it is not the fault of whoever or whatever is in the void, that they are in the void. They were lost by the societies and systems put in place to care for them. Just by existing, they slipped through the cracks. Someone sinned against them. They are the one sheep that ninety-nine other sheep let wander off. It is not their fault they are in the void.

So, when faced with ‘void,’ what are we to do? Speak light of course! As the living lights of the world, we are tasked to remind all of creation of its original goodness (Genesis chapter one, folks!). As ambassadors of reconciliation, we are called to identify the voids of this world and speak light and life into those places.

When you find yourself in a void – and I really believe you will soon, if you go looking for it – I pray you have grace-filled eyes to actually see what is really going on. I pray you have open hands, open enough to embrace someone new into your life. And I pray that the Holy Spirit gives you the exact words that need to be spoken in order to light up that void.