jan 5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. - John 1:1-2

This is a scene from a novel I've been working on...it's interesting, I think in the context of these opening words of John's Gospel.

…the skeleton man’s feeble body…the door closing, not quite all the way…Sam nudged it shut with his hip then helped the old man to the edge of the lake. They stood together above the shallows – Vino and Sam, one dying, the other helpless, the two of them side by side.

Sam wondered if this would be the last time Vino smelled fresh air. He wondered as they ambled around the perimeter of the lake. Vino was determined to make it around. Sam knew that much. It took forever.

Even so, his great uncle had been as expressive as ever: “The pattern of the world is circular, Sammy. That’s why history repeats itself.” That’s what Vino said as they circled Colonial Lake. “If you ever find yourself approaching a dead end, you’ve gone off track. Turn around and go back to the beginning.” The sky was reflecting off the water. The clouds looked like they were beneath them; they were walking on the clouds. “Beginning,” Vino said, “ironically, the word’s origin is unknown. It appears in both Old English and Old German about the same time, coming from the root ginnan, meaning ‘to open’. So be-ginning can literally be understood as ‘at the opening.’ You see Sammy, it’s important to pay attention to the roots of things. Take the word beginning. You would think, since the root gin and gen as in Genesis, being so similar to each other, would etymologically have something to do with creation or birth. After all, Genesis in the Bible begins with the phrase.” 

Sam sighed. He loved Vino’s lessons even if they made his head spin.

“That is what bothers me about the literalists,” said Vino, continuing, “they don’t know their etymology. They think beginning has to do with a point in time, as if the root of beginning is gen. However, the phrase ‘in the beginning,’ when understood etymologically correct, should be read to mean ‘at the open,’ like in one’s experience with a book. In fact, you could correctly translate the first three words of Genesis, ‘once upon a time.’ It makes the Bible no less true, mind you. Many times, stories hold more truth than facts, which is why I have always maintained the opinion that the Bible is better understood when read as a story as opposed to an instruction manual.”  

Bernard smiled. At that point, he turned to Vino to ask him what in the world he was talking about. “I’m talking about the way all stories go,” Vino said. Bernard remembered the look in his eye.

“Whose?” 

“Yours. Mine. God’s. One thing you need to know about God, Sammy, he returns.” A cloud darkened the sun; it darkened the lines in Vino’s face. “Thou shalt return unto the ground; for out of it thou wast taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Vino paused to watch a mallard find his mate. “Are you listening, Sam?”

He was. He just didn’t like the subject.

“Pay attention because this is the pattern: If you ever take something from God; rest assured, he won’t rest until he gets it back.”