Contributed by Mary Economou Green PhD.

Genesis (Greek word) refers to a beginning, origin, creation, generation, “mode of formation or production” (Oxford English Dictionary). In the cosmos we find ourselves in, a world of reptilian mad men/women wreaking division, wars, environmental devastation, we could use a little ‘rebirth.’ A bright time in our world history was not only the ‘re-discovery’ of the classics in art, architecture, philosophy, writings, but also the placement of human beings in the centre of our universe – the concept that looking upward, we encompass, absorb a more ‘heavenly’ spirit; looking downward, omnipresent reptilian instincts prevail, exhibiting bulling behaviour, selfishness, greed.

Perhaps now is the moment to seize the Gs – to be genuine, genial, generous. Genuine, authentic, “being as represented, true not counterfeit” (OED). Geniality, so much needed – a sense of joyousness, kindness, sympathetic cheerfulness. A few dashes of “gentilesse” would not be amiss, not to do with being noble in birth of course, but noble in nature; with being courteous, affable, polite. Add a splash of generosity – being liberal in giving, magnanimous, compassionate toward others. In this rather “dark patch” (Milton), we are at a crossroads. But remember, in Pandora’s box Hope hesitated and hovered at the rim of the box – and our next letter in this A to Z challenge may very well be H for Hope!