Even the most biblically illiterate among us generally recognize the phrase In the beginning… as the start of the book of Genesis when God creates the world, the heavens and the earth. No matter how many times I read those words, I love returning to them; I love that image of God as a beginner.
I am a person who loves beginnings. Waking in the early morning. The start of the school year. Opening up a new book to begin reading. Holding a newborn baby in my arms. In the beginning…
Sometimes beginnings are a delight; other times they are a bit frightening.
The first day of school or the first day on a new job is exciting, but I can remember that feeling of butterflies doing acrobatics in my stomach at the same time. I can remember learning to ride a bicycle and the terror of falling and getting hurt. I was only brave enough at first to ride in the tiny front yard of our house. At least if I crashed and fell off, it would be on grass instead of pavement. I kept my trainer wheels on far longer than I needed; and yes, sometimes I did crash and skin my knees and elbows, but once I got beyond the beginning, I kept on going.
These days even toddlers set off on their tiny bikes, little bikes that have no pedals—their feet are their pedals as they scoot-scoot-scoot down the street. I loved watching our grandchildren move quickly along on their little tiny bicycles. It wasn’t such a giant leap to graduate to a bicycle with pedals. Young children are often enthusiastic and willing beginners. They are beginning so many new things in their lives; they wake up ready to roll.
Speaking of ready to roll, it took me a while to be brave enough to begin eating sushi. Finally, year after year of watching my grandchildren order so confidently and devour so enthusiastically, dragon rolls, spicy tuna rolls, California rolls and more, I thought, “Okay, old lady, put the tempura and white rice aside and give it a try.” What a surprise! Sushi is delicious! I am still not very adventuresome when it comes to the more exotic sushi, but at least it does not strike fear in my heart to think of eating it now. Eat like a beginner.
I was more than happy to let my husband take over the task of helping our children learn to drive. They are both excellent drivers now (though I will always think they drive faster than I think they should, just as they think I drive slower than any human being should be allowed), but they had to start as beginners. They had to learn how to manage the 3,000 pound behemoth we call our automobile, but they did it.
My husband is not afraid to try new things with a recipe. He finds it exciting to try something new, to be a beginner in preparing a new dish. I, on the other hand, have been known to burn a sweet potato. It feels as though as I am a perpetual beginner in the kitchen and I don’t really enjoy it. Give me a package mix of gingerbread and I am perfectly content. Sometimes we pick boring rather than beginning when we are afraid to fail.
I recently took an art workshop using pastels, a medium I had heard of but never used. I signed up because the class welcomed beginners. Yes, that would be me. A beginner. Every beginner is blessed when you have a gifted and patient teacher. A teacher who understands that no question is too ridiculous. A teacher who remembers what it is like to be a beginner. I had a wonderful teacher, had great fun in the class and came out with a painting I am actually going to frame.
Some things we might not want to begin. I don’t want to be a beginning skydiver. I like to gaze at the sky, might attempt to write a poem about the sky, or paint the sky—-but not sail through it. Yet I know there are others who have skydiving at the top of their bucket list and can’t wait to get to it.
In some people I want expertise and experience, not beginners: my dentist, my auto mechanic, my tax preparer, an airplane pilot or a surgeon. But we need to remember that they, too, had to start at the beginning once upon a time, long, long ago. They had to be brave enough and believe in themselves enough to begin, to embark upon the journey, to learn the skills and to practice the skills they would need, so that they could arrive at the day when they were no longer a beginner and could do the work they dreamed of doing.
Next week I am starting as a beginner in something that has been on my bucket list for a number of years. I have registered to take a class at the community college in beginning American Sign Language (ASL). I have actually had the textbook sitting on my bookshelf for at least five years, maybe longer. When I was serving as the Dean at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington, Vermont, I taught the congregation to sign the Sanctus. I had seen a YouTube video of this being done at St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco and I thought, “I can learn this. I can teach this.” It became a very meaningful part of the service as we prayed with our hands as well as our words.
I am excited that next week I will learn even more of the beautiful language of ASL.
The pandemic has been a great reminder that life is short and our time on this planet is not infinite. Time to take a look at one’s bucket list and resist spouting our old adage of “one day, some day.” Today is the day: go for it!
As the poet Mary Oliver writes:
Penny always has new desserts she wants to try...
I will have to be honest and say I am not very adventurous when it comes to trying new foods. I am one of the pickiest eaters ever. I have however tried painting and like to try new beginnings and adventures.