“Amazing encounters and experiences inspire us. But have you thought about where inspiration comes from? Where did the bit of magic that inspired the architect’s imagination come from? . . . That bit of magic is found in this life-filled word. . . . It is the beginning of all sparks. Philosophers call this life-filled spark a first cause.”- Timothy D. Willard
Timothy Willard concludes Chapter 3 of The Beauty Chasers with his description of Jesus, the Word (John 1:1), as the source of all spark moments we experience in our imaginations. Furthermore, Timothy stresses, God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit form a beautiful tapestry of communion. And the mystery of the Trinity compels our imaginations.
Therefore, Timothy reasons:
“That’s what makes the story so interesting. It does not begin, ‘Once upon a time.’ It begins, ‘Once before a time.’ And not just a time, but any time. We like stories that begin, ‘Once upon a time.’ because that phrase places us in some far away land or in a particular area of world history. It gives us a starting point, and we like starting points.”
In Genesis, the Spirit ‘covered over’ the waters of chaos. Much like an eagle covering her young, protecting them and giving them life. In addition, we see that language again when God ‘covered over’ the Israelites the night of the final plague in Egypt.
Above all, from beneath His caring wings God breathed life into human beings. As a result, Timothy underscores, when the Word spoke the created order ignited beneath the wings of the Spirit.
In conclusion, the author asserts his view of a world charged with a heavenly nobility:
“We sense wonder in life. . . because the world is charged with a heavenly nobility. . . . Beauty and wonder reflect God’s excellent nature. Everything created reaches toward the nobility of heaven. This is why pain and suffering cannot be ends in themselves. Like organic material, they must break down and continue along the rebirth process. Our brokenness stirs with the soil of God’s nobility to bring life to the seed.”
Today’s question: What do you think about when you consider that life-filled spark, the first cause? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “True life withers away from God”
