June 1: The Beginning

"Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When you read, you begin with ABC. When you sing you begin with do re mi..."

Maria
The Sound of Music


A great first line can really set the stage. Writers are reminded time and time again that the first line is the grabber. If it isn't good, then the reader stops reading.

Do you recognize any of these first lines?

1. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
2. Call me Ishmael.
3. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
4. I'd never given much thought to how I would die-- though I'd had reason enough in the last few months-- but if I had, I would not have imagined it like this.
5. It was a pleasure to burn.
6. You better not never tell nobody but God.

(Answers in tomorrow's post)

Often, a first line can give an idea of time and place: "Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away" or "Once upon a time."

What about this first line: "In the beginning..."

In the beginning.

How very different that is than say "once" or "back then" or "far, far away". In the beginning means just that: at the start of all things. It's the commencement, the launch, the initiation.

This is the beginning of a 30 day spiritual journey. We're going to ask questions and encourage discussion. Join the discussion by posting on the Facebook wall or commenting on the blog.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

Just like that, he created everything. Have you ever created something something out of nothing? How does it feel to make or create something?
(5 points if you post a response. 20 points if you post something you've created (a song, a poem, a piece of art, even a photo...anything that you're proud of)

What about you? Where or what is your beginning? Take 5 or 10 minutes today and think about where you are in school, in faith or in life in general. What is your beginning?