"39 Words"

     In 1851 Herman Melville penned these words when he wrote the well-known book Moby-Dick, “Call me Ishmael. Some years ago – never mind how long precisely – having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.” It is considered by many to be one of the great opening lines in literature. Much can be said about how an opening line sets the tone or weight of what is to come. My favorite opening reads like this, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” I cannot express how I feel each time I read that statement. How can one not be humbled by these 39 words? They answer the questions that many over time have continually asked and the answer has always been with us. From the beginning God would not have us ignorant of him but would have us to know him and understand the “When and the How”.  Years ago I was presented with a mathematical puzzle to be solved. Being a math teacher I saw this as a challenge. I tried to apply all the mathematical formulas and theorems that I could recall all with no success. Frustrated I set the problem aside for a short time and then looked at it again. Looking at it again, I noticed a part of the object that was already labeled. It was exactly the same as the part I was looking for. The answer was in front of me the entire time in its simplest form. For man’s much learning we have sought the answers within our own wisdom and understanding when the answers have been in front of us all along. Why must we complicate that which needs not to be complicated? Make your life a little less complicated, know that he is and seek after him.  “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb.11:6)”