The first line of a poem comes to my mind these days. “Es ist Juni. Und es ist gut.” (“It is June. And it is good.”) I don’t remember the writer’s name or the rest of the lines. And I cannot look it up as it is in a collection of poems that is—like many other books—still at a friend’s house in Germany.
I am, however, completely satisfied with just this line. “It is June. And it is good.” What I have always sensed in these few words is a simple and deep acceptance of what is. All it takes to be “good” is that it is June (or September or February or any other time of the year).
The first book of the Bible expresses this acceptance of what is in Genesis 1:31: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
Interestingly, the author of the first account of creation does not leave it with this summary. Again and again, after the creation of each element our world comprises of—light, water and earth, plants, stars, animals, and fellow humans, we can read, “and God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:4; 1:10; 1:12; 1: 18; 1:21; 1:25).
There are no accomplishments mentioned, by the way. There was no need for Adam and Eve to become a “hero” and a “heroine.” Creation did not receive the seal of approval due to outstanding achievements or goals reached in a set time. Being created and being a part of creation alone qualifies for being “good.” It is as simple as this.
How far away, however, is this from our usual experience! From early on, we are encouraged to compete with each other; our achievements at school determine if we are “good” or not. Later on, in the relentless busyness of our lives we thrive to become “someone,” “to make it,” and to accumulate wealth as an indicator of being “successful.” And low self-esteem follows if we “fail” - in the eyes of the world.
It seems as if we distrust God's initial and unconditional love. We cannot easily rest in his (her) approval of us.
Jesus could. He hadn’t done anything special, no long-awaited healings, no touching sermons, and yet at his baptism there was this voice, “ This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Soon afterward, however, yes, he started his work.
It seems as if only by accepting Creation’s fundamental acceptance of us, we are capable of doing what we are really here for. And this has little to do with worldly accomplishments, rather than with practicing love, respect, and understanding. Mother Theresa put it, “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with a great love.”
If we can open up to be channels of Creation's love and to share it, each and every day, we are a “success.”
It is June. And it is good.
