I conceive of it this way (knowing my concept is woefully inadequate and finite and changing):
Not as an "initiation" of creation but creation as a result of its existence. ("When" this occurs is nonsensical outside time.) And not as presenting additional input but as unchanging existence that causes time and the finite corruptible universe - in which things evolve, rise, fall, exist, change form, etc. over time.
Think, if you will, one level above the laws of physics.
That sounds as if creation occurred passively as a result of its existence and not of its will. But since it exists eternally it would make sense the creation does also.