In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him,
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being.
What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
The Bible includes two additional Creation Stories from the Hebrew tradition:
Genesis 2:4 -3:24 from the Yahwehist tradition, and
Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 from the Elohist tradition.
Other Creation Stories from Around the World may be found here.
One of my favorite stories comes from the Potawatomi Indian tradition. It begins with the "Earthmaker" creating the earth and all within it except for humans. In this tradition, Earthmaker three times scoops clay which is baked to create a figure - white, black and red. The story continues with wars and the creation of peace. Read this Creation Story.
We are beginning a new year - 2009. It is a time of beginnings and as the various Creation Stories attest, "In the beginning God..." As you journey into this new year, may you find God in your beginnings.
