In The Beginning

by Todd R. Gunderson

“Far, far away,” “Once upon a time,” “Long, long ago,” and “It was a dark and stormy night” are commonly used story starters. However, the latter, the opening line from Paul Clifford, a novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton published in 1830, has been used for more than story starting—it is frequently used to indicate sarcasm in literary elements, short funny stories, and jokes. Each of these beginnings certainly communicates what might be expected. A story starter is important.

If you think about it, we all have a story starter. I often joke about my beginning starting with my father, who as a young man plowed the dusty fields on the plains of North Dakota. The family eked out a living as sharecroppers in the 1940’s. It’s a true story with a humble beginning, but it relates an important truth I like to bring forth; my father worked hard and endured many hardships along the way. Knowing his success, you would know why I am proud.

As the start of Paul Clifford, every story starter serves its purpose. “In the beginning…” is another important narrative starter (I use narrative to disassociate from the fairytale connotation of the word “story”). These are the three words that start our Holy Bible. I find it hard not 40 // October 2021

to recall Genesis 1:1 when I hear these words. In fact, ask anyone you know and see if they can tell you the first words of the Bible. You will be amazed at the number of people who know. You may also be amazed by the number of people who know nothing else about the Bible. Paul Clifford also suffers from the same fate. Many have heard, “It was a dark and stormy night…” and many use it as a sarcastic start to their own stories. But have you ever heard the rest of the sentence, “…the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.” The writing is beautiful and sets a great scene, but believe it or not, The BulwerLytton Fiction Contest, “…challenges participants to write an atrocious opening sentence to the worst novel never written.” Sounds unfair in a way, considering the beautiful description he paints. The best story ever written rarely receives criticism for its beginning. The Bible has endured for 2700 years, yet its beginning shares the most important truth we have—that God created our world and all that is in it. The Biblical narrative shares how we can all have new beginnings through Christ who is the Word. John 1:1 proclaims, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” I encourage you to open the Bible’s New Testament and find the lovely words in Matthew 5:14-16, so you, too, can be the light of the world. Find your story beginning as the flame that fights against the darkness.

About The Author

Todd R. Gunderson is a teacher, author, and woodworker who lives and works in Cleveland, TN. He has been teaching for 25 years for Bradley County Schools. He earned his teaching degree at Lee University and a Master of Science in Education from Arkansas State University. Todd lives the country life with his wife, Laura, 4 children, 4 cats, and 2 dogs. You can see his books and woodworking projects at ToddRGunderson.com.