Opening Lines

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen" - George Orwell, 1984

"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since" - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show" - Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

Every great story has a great beginning. Whether it's a classic work of fiction or a true-life account of someone's life, each story has to begin somewhere. So I find myself at a new beginning, and I wonder what will be the opening lines. “It was a dark and stormy night…”? In years past I recall working with those new to Christianity and we would always start by studying the Gospel of John. I guess it’s because it’s so simply and beautifully written, or maybe because of the intimate portrait of the Christ that it paints – I don’t know.

Anyway, I have started reading it again. This time I try to set aside all the “theological” viewpoints, arguments and criticisms and just try to read it. Of course it’s hard to do. It’s that whole pink elephant thing. But I have decided to try. To get back to those things I learned as a child – pray a bit, nothing intense, just a conversation (hoping like hell there is a God who is listening, otherwise, if overheard the men in the Good Humor coats will be coming for me), see! It’s just not that easy! But I digress. I will pray a bit, read a bit, and take a few minutes to ruminate. I vow not to analyze, criticize or any other -ize. I will be as the newborn babe desiring the milk of the word.