most hopeful

i was once told that we can’t work toward the kingdom,
because we would get disappointed,
because things don’t go the way we want them to,
because we make progress,
but then we lose ground.

i was told there’s nothing to do but wait for it
try to hold on in the meantime
try to huddle close in the meantime
try to stay strong in the meantime.

but it’s only been in the working toward the kingdom
which is, of course, seeking for the kingdom
because when have we ever sought for something and not worked toward it,
that we learn what it is we were after all along

and once you get a taste,
a glimmer
a sniff
a sign of the kingdom
there’s nowhere else to go
and there’s nothing else to hope for
and there’s nothing worth huddling up or holding on or staying strong for

but running after it with all the
workday and play-day and holiday and payday

and so, we seek first the kingdom
we seek first the justice of the kingdom
we seek first the economics of the kingdom
we seek first the compassion of the kingdom
we seek first the community of the kingdom
we seek first the signs of the kingdom

and we find that even in the
two steps forward and once step back
or even in the
two steps forward and three steps back

we still have no choice but to walk toward the kingdom
we still have no choice but to work toward the kingdom
we still have no choice but to lean toward the kingdom

because it’s a burden that is “too heavy to carry
and impossible to leave.”

so we must work toward the kingdom
even though things don’t go the way we want them to
even though we get disappointed
even though we lose ground

because

kingdom comes on earth as in heaven.

djordan
Pine Tree