Ex Nihilo

Ex Nihilo

A Latin term meaning from or out of nothing.

Philosophers and theologians have debated the notion of ex nihilo for centuries in regards to our very existence. The book of Hebrews (11:3) sums it as “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible,” which refers to creation in Genesis when God spoke the world into being.

Some say ex nihilo can refer to an artist’s creativity that allows them to transform a blank canvas into a masterpiece. Perhaps Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, or Vincent van Gogh with The Starry Night.

While it’s arguably very difficult to truly create something ex nihilo, the concept is a powerful reminder that we all have the potential to create something new.

Perhaps you are in a position today where you feel the need to start over or to shift direction.  

You may feel overwhelmed and burned out, with the demands of others leaving you feeling completely empty. A loss in your life may have left a gaping hole where hopes and dreams used to be. Maybe you’re on what feels like the right path, but you just don’t seem to be making any forward progress.

What if we were able to use the concept of ex nihilo to better ourselves?

To use the perspective to see potential in both our thoughts and our actions?

You could be aiming to create something as grand as a masterpiece, or something as simple as a new daily rhythm to bring about more peace to your day. Perhaps you want to level up your fitness from your current state to do that one activity that currently seems out of reach. Possibly instill a new habit into your life to improve your health and overall well-being.

The possibilities are truly infinite.

We’ve lived in our current house for five summers now, and we’ve done a lot of work around the property: taking out unruly trees and bushes, building a new deck, removing binfuls of trash, and moving the fence line to the property line. Even with all the work, our back yard has been a weedy, ugly patch of mostly dirt and rock.

In the middle of the process of grading and removing hundreds of rocks.

This spring, I spent hours on my tractor to re-grade my back yard. I took that weedy patch of nothingness, and graded it down to bare soil. I removed the weeds I could, and more rocks than I could count. I then prepare the soil with nutrients and seeded, topping with a protective layer of mulch.

Finally ready for planting! It took countless hours to actually get here.

Over the last few months, I have weeded, watered, mowed, and cared for my new lawn. A tough thing to do with the dry summer we’ve had here in Colorado.

It’s still not perfect.

I have plenty of weeds I’m still working on removing. I still need to regularly water and feed my new lawn to encourage growth.

However, I now have something I didn’t have before. An imperfectly green and comparatively beautiful lawn that my whole family can enjoy on a daily basis.

My imperfectly beautiful green lawn!

I didn’t quite create something from nothing, but it certainly feels like it. It is not complete, but the progress I’ve made so far has been rewarding.

My lawn is a small example that while we may not be able to truly create something ex nihilo, we all have potential to do something great. Often, the hardest part is taking the first step.

So, what do you want to create?

When will you start?

If you're still trying to figure that out, or you need help taking the first steps, I would encourage you to book a call. I'm here, ready to be your Champion.