Daily Worship

In or out?

Liz Crumlish August 09, 2015 0 0

Genesis 1: 26-29

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

God who created the world and declared that creation was good,
bringing your skill and artistry to bear add you created human beings,
who determines the parameters
of acceptance or rejection?
Who deems that some are suitable
while others are beyond the pale?
What degree of difference
is one that can be tolerated?
And what perceived impairment
requires cleansing or elimination?
God who made each of us in your own image,
celebrating amazing diversity and complexity,
You look on us with love beyond our imagining
You marvel at the wonder of all creation
You celebrate our uniqueness.
May we never look at others
and judge them less than ourselves.
May we celebrate all that you have created
and all that you continue to enable in us 
and accord that gift to others in every place and time.
May we never be distracted by gender or race or creed or colour or sexuality
from seeing your divine image at the heart of all your creation
and honouring all that you have created as a thing of great beauty
to be treasured in all its glorious wonder and diversity.