Then the Lord GOD said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord GOD formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner.
Genesis 2:18-19
I grew up as a kid called Timmy with a border collie named Lassie. She helped us herd cattle and barked when people drove up the lane. Lassie was a special dog but we named many other animals too. Naming a thing doesn’t mean you control it. Just ask anyone who has named a cat!
Naming is a way of expressing relationship to and connection with. It is a recognition that being alone is not good. Humans long to be named by other humans, and the story will take us there, but for today, it is good to remember our profound connection to all of God’s creatures, for we are all “dust and to dust we shall return”.
Loving Creator, all life must return to the earth from which it came. Yet our names, our relationship to you, remain. Thank you for sustaining us with this hope. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Timothy Koester, Pastor
