The prayer Salat contains the words, “Thou art the first cause and the last effect, the divine light and the spirit of guidance, Alpha and Omega.” Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet (hence our name for this basic kit of letters) and omega is the last.  The words imply the beginning and the end, and by extension, all that comes between.

No doubt this epithet conveys the infinite nature of the divine; there can be nothing before the beginning, nor does anything follow the end.  As we ourselves are part of the picture, we cannot spread our arms wide enough to embrace the infinite.

But the phrase also touches us personally in a very profound way.  Whatever our state or condition, we certainly stand somewhere between the Alpha that sparks the unfolding of all, and the Omega that unites all in a perfect culmination.  We are each, one could say, like one bead on an infinite rosary, connected by the divine, unbreakable thread of guidance.

Recognising that, how could we ever feel lost?