Let there be light - Angela Tilby

A unique blend of popular science, spirituality and biblical scholarship by the celebrated Anglican writer and broadcaster. 'In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void, and darkness covered the face of the deep while the spirit of God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.' The opening pages of the Bible tell the story of the creation of the universe. Stars, people, angels and animals all emerge at God's command. This may not be strict science (though it is closer to the pattern of evolutionary change than many imagine) but it is certainly poetry and spirituality, and Angela Tilby shows how we can use this story to get in touch with the creative hand of God working in our own personal history. Creation, according to Genesis, is an alternating pattern of light and darkness, creation and separation. While it evokes the creation of our universe, it also reminds us of our own individual story of birth and growth and making a life. Everyone has to struggle with change, loss and disorientation in the course of a lifetime. Genesis invites us to see meaning and purpose in the midst of turbulence and uncertainty. These seven meditations on the creation narrative of Genesis 1-2:3 use the text as a starting point for developing the life of prayer. Each chapter concludes with a summary and seven suggestions for ways of praying. These meditations are suitable for use by individuals or groups as a Lent course.