DAY 1 Creator God of Outstretched Arms The Right Reverend Chris McLeod In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5) Painted on a cave in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales is a picture of Baiame. Baiame is the Wanarua people’s Creator of all things. With extraordinarily long, outstretched arms, Baiame embraces creation. Baiame is surrounded by paintings of hands, tools, and boomerangs. With large, bulbous eyes Baiame sees all things and looks deeply into the eyes of those who look at the painting. It feels like Baiame is looking into the soul and heart. I did not find it unsettling, but comforting. I also sense that I am not alone as I look at this painting. I am with my brothers and sisters in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council on this 13
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