THE G.O.D. STORY: A MYTH OF CREATION The Great Order of Designers gathered in the formless dark. There, joined soul to soul, mind to mind, G.O.D. decided to create a work, a masterpiece of immortality and beauty combining the subtleties of destiny and free choice, harmony and discord, and all other formless dichotomies. The Great Order o Designers had all mediums available; all colors, all sounds, all textures, and infinite imagination. The first balance created was Light -- to reflect all colors as dark absorbed all colors -- and it was good. It was discovered there were infinite possibilities. None of these possibilities, it was decided, nor any probability or idea would go untried. First, G.O.D. decided to create form and substance with which to work. And it was good. There was so much excitement and energy put into the beginning of this great project that the form and substance was boiling hot and quite untouchable. While awaiting it to cool and be manageable, G.O.D. tried to decide which idea would be implemented first; and the Great Order of Designers did not know quite where to start. It was decided to use form and substance as pallet as well as canvas; so first G.O.D. added water that colors could be mixed, that form and substance could be molded, and the great masterpiece, *LIFE*, could begin. G.O.D. started small, hesitating with the tenuous anxious joy of such a major creation. And it was very good. The Great Order of Designers set the form and substance spinning. In this way it would be equally in the light and the dark. Also by spinning freely, form and substance would be subject to chance as well as design. The surface of form and substance began to take shape. There were high mounds and low valleys, large places of water and places where the water ran along the surface until it was part of the large bodies of water. Above form and substance there were puffs of substance that produced water and then became non-substance. And within the water, within the water was *LIFE*, small one-celled creatures that could divide and create more one-celled creatures. G.O.D. was extremely pleased. It was then the Great Order of Designers decided to diversify and specialize. So pleased was G.O.D. with the success of Life within the water the Great Order of Designers decided to try something Large, spectacular. Thus there came to be upon the surface, within the water, and flying through the air, great, truly magnificent creatures. Their skins were gray and green and brown. They wandered on the surface munching on the various and varied flora the Great Order of Designers had provided to add color, texture, and beauty to the surface. And the magnificent creatures sometimes munched upon each other, for G.O.D. decided there should be elements of chance as to which of the wonderful creations would remain. The world seemed balanced and it was good. But the Great Order of Designers was getting bored. For all their magnificence, the wonderful creatures seemed to be going nowhere. Although G.O.D. had made advancements and improvements in the original models, something was missing. G.O.D. realized that what was missing was *LIFE* with an ability to create of its own accord. And so, the Great Order of Designers set about to change the form and substance so that it would sustain *LIFE* of a more delicate nature than the beautiful ponderous beasts. G.O.D. froze the water and covered the surface of the form and substance with ice, slowly watching the beautiful beasts die out and finally disappear. The Great Order of Designers decided to use the time waiting for form and substance to warm up and defrost designing blueprints for the new form of *LIFE*. The first of these new creatures was covered with fur against the cold; their design was completely different from the previous creatures. The new creatures could walk on two legs instead of using four. This left two limbs for other things. G.O.D. also gave these creatures a larger brain and better instincts. The new creatures still spent a considerable amount of time munching on flora and fauna -- and sometimes each other -- but they also spent a great amount of time exploring the environment around them. They did things creatively, like climbing trees to prevent being munched on, or throwing rocks and sticks at trees to bring down fruit to munch on. They were strong and quick, in comparison to the beautiful beasts. And they seemed to have some initiative, but for the Great Order of Designers this was not enough. Oh, it was a start, which pleased G.O.D. no end. Thus G.O.D. was inspired to create the ultimate. As form and substance continued to defrost, G.O.D. created creatures with less hair and a greater ability to move around. The later editions were frailer than the early models, as G.O.D. wanted to see if the creatures would use their creative ability instead of relying continuously on strength and size. And as these ultimate creatures were being evolved, the Great Order of Designers continued creating other creatures to live on the surface, in the water, and to fly through the air. These other creatures were to fulfill myriad purposes: to baffle and delight the thinking creatures as well as help and hinder. These creatures took the place of the original ponderous beasts. Some of the new creatures resembled the old, though in a more refined style. G.O.D. was having a good time playing with the beautiful world and marvelous creations. G.O.D. felt good, the world was good, everything was good! Then it happened. The Great Order of Designers came upon the greatest idea yet for an even greater creation. G.O.D. conceived the ultimate. The Great Order of Designers decided to become a part of the magnificent playground. G.O.D. created the ultimate life form, a life form to embody the Great Order of Designers. It was a wonderful idea. Following a basic design, each of the new life forms would be unique, different, special. And each would have the ability to create, as each would be a member of the Great Order of Designers. G.O.D. quit working for a spell and threw a party to celebrate.