beginning

The Edward Bulwar Lytton prize is awarded every year to the author of the worst possible opening line of a book. This has been so successful that Penguin has now published five books full of entries.

Some past winners:

"Just beyond the Narrows the river widens."

"With a curvaceous figure that Venus would have envied, a tanned, unblemished oval face framed with lustrous thick brown hair, deep azure-blue eyes fringed with long black lashes, perfect teeth that vied for competition, and a small straight nose, Marilee had a beauty that defied description."

"Andre, a simple peasant, had only one thing on his mind as he crept along the east wall: "Andre creep . . . Andre creep . . .Andre creep."

"Stanley looked quite bored and somewhat detached, but then penguins often do."

"Mike Hardware was the kind of private eye who didn't know the meaning of the word "fear," a man who could laugh in the face of danger and spit in the eye of death - in short, a moron with suicidal tendencies."

The beginning of a book is of utmost importance. The first few words may well determine whether or not you bother to read any further. It's interesting to note how each of the gospel writers chose to start their books.

Matthew began with a genealogy: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac........" (1:1). This may not be of great interest to some of us, but would have captured the attention of Matthew's Jewish readers.

Mark began with action, so as to capture the attention of his Roman readers. "John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (1:4)

Luke, the historian, began by describing his motives for writing. "It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus." (1:3)

Then there's John, who begins the story of Jesus where it logically should start -- at the beginning! "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (1:1-3)

Four very different styles of writing. May the beginning of these books lead you to read further, to explore the life of the Son of God -- his teachings, his miracles, his call to discipleship and most importantly his death and resurrection. Have you read the gospels lately?