Defying Dis-Aster

Madeleine L'Engle, one of my favorite authors, if not my favorite, was a student of etymology. She discussed in her book, A Stone for a Pillow the word “disaster”. Star-watching was something she very much enjoyed and where she felt a connection with her Maker and His creation. “I can see all of Creation as the house of God, with the glory of the stars reminding me of the Creator's immensity, diversity, magnificence. ”When looking at the makeup of the word disaster, dis-aster, we see dis, which means separation, and aster, which means star. L’Engle concluded that dis-aster is a separation from the stars. With the stars as an icon of God’s creation, L’Engle stated, “Such separation is disaster indeed. When we are separated from the stars, the sea, each other, we are in danger of being separated from God.” So, the idea of being separated from God’s creation is devastating and to minimize it, a very lonely place to be. “My distress at being separated from the stars . . . is a symptom of separation from creation and so, ultimately, from community, family, each other, Creator.”

And this is my aim, to defy (resist boldly) this separation from creation, community, family, and last but most importantly, the Creator. Again quoting L’Engle, “Enjoying the Creator's delights implies connectedness.” My hope is to use this blogspot to help me in this effort. I have found that I can experience creation on a different level when I go to write about it, whether that is nature or mankind. And I have found that allowing others to read my writing creates intimacy in relationship and thus establishing community. And lastly, when I write I connect with the Creator in a way I don’t often otherwise.