“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth…Then the Lord said to Noah, "‘Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation” (Genesis 6. 11 & 7. 1)

It is far from easy to read the first of these two verses without feeling utterly ashamed. There is of course some measure of truth in the statement about corruption and violence. What is experienced in humankind now, has always been a fact of life. Greed, corruption, violence. But the second of these verses bring to mind the hope that exists despite the dark side of existence. God recognizes the righteousness in each of us and the story of the covenant with Noah prefigures the deep sway of time towards restoration and perfection and away from negativity.