Looking at the world around us, it is easy to become cynical. It is easy to let rational logic declare that man is a hopeless creature given to lust, greed, and lawlessness. I read an article this week that made me rethink some things. It is an article that pictures God counselling with the angels on the creation of man. After all, the Text does tell us that when it came the time to create man God did say, “Let US make man …” The story goes something like this.
When God decided to create man, Truth appeared, falling before God's throne, and in all humility begged God to refrain from calling into being a creature who is beset with the vice of lying and who will tread truth under his feet. Peace came forth to support this petition describing man as a “creature so full of strife and contention so as to disturb the peace and harmony of creation itself.” Then the soft voice of Charity exclaimed “Sovereign of the universe, create a being in Your likeness, for it will be a noble creature striving to imitate Your attributes by its actions…. I see him now in spirit seeking out those who are distressed and wretched to comfort them, drying the tears of the afflicted and despondent, raising up them that are bowed down in spirit, reaching his helping hand to those who are in need of help, speaking peace to the heart of the widow, and giving shelter to the fatherless. Such a creature cannot fail to be a glory to His Maker.' The Creator approved of the pleadings of Charity, called man into being, and cast Truth down to the earth to flourish there. This story teaches us that in the balance of things, the acts of unselfish courage, the selfless deeds, the automatic humane impulse to rescue, and the noble acts of goodness that man is capable of, tip the balance in his favor in spite of all the evil he is also guilty of. This gave God, He who knows the end from the beginning, the go-ahead concerning the creation of man. As we get together in families over the holiday season, may we look at our kin, especially those who rub us the wrong way, with the eyes of God who felt that the potential of goodness imbedded in that person makes him a worthy candidate to existence. After all, even a broken clock right twice a day!
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