"Exercise One: Living by Your Affirmations
At the heart of the Christian doctrine of creation is the goodness of the world. Ultimately, this goodness must be affirmed in our own lives. There are numerous affirmations of divine goodness that concretize this experience of divine loving creativity. For example, we can affirm, 'God's goodness creates my life,' and then particularize that in affirmations such as: 'God's goodness creates my body.' 'God's goodness creates my sexuality.' 'God's goodness creates my imagination.'

"In your own life, how would you concretize this affirmation? Take a few moments to experience God's goodness in the various aspects of your life. If all things are icons of God, then all human gifts and characteristics have their ultimate origin in the divine creativity.

God's goodness creates _______.
God's goodness creates _______.
God's goodness creates _______.
God's goodness creates _______.

"Exercise Two: Living by Your Imagination
Once again, take time to be still and know that God is with you. Relax your body and let go of any stresses in your life today. In the quiet, begin to survey the universe, exploring whatever comes to mind in the macrocosmic world of planets and galaxies. As you gaze heavenward, experience the divine creative light permeating the planets and galaxies.

"Move toward the microcosm. Ponder in the quiet your immediate environment, both natural and human-created. Experience the divine creative light permeating everything you consider.

"Now enter the world of animals. Experience the divine creative light permeating the chirping bird, the sleeping cat, the running dog. Turning to the human world, visualize certain persons who are near to you in spirit. Experience the divine creative light permeating their beings. Visualize a stranger or antagonist. Experience the divine creative light permeating their beings as well.

"Now, turn to your own life. Experience the divine creative light permeating your mind, refreshing it with creative ideas. Experience the divine creative light permeating your body, flushing out toxins, washing away fatigue, enhancing the immune system. If there are any place of dis-ease or stress in your life — body, mind, or spirit — experience the divine creative with its healing power embracing and permeating that part of your life.

"Close with the affirmation 'God's goodness creates my life and the life of all things.'"