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Fall 2014
On Kingdoms... Past, Present and Ethereal
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What does it take for a 'kingdom' to be a 'kingdom'? This is a somewhat deep and contemplative question so let's start with a simple definition. Webster describes a kingdom as “a country, state or territory ruled by a king or queen.” That’s easy enough. He goes on to say it is also a “realm associated with or regarded as being under the control or a particular person or thing”.
Ok, this seems to be a good starting place for deeper reflection. I might want to add the idea of ‘power’ for it seems to me a kingdom is not a kingdom until the issue of power is involved. And yet another interesting thought offered interrogatively... "Once a 'kingdom' always a kingdom?" Stated a bit differently, "Does a 'kingdom' ever really come-n-go as a 'kingdom'?"
Having recently touched the ground of no less than eight kingdoms (yes you read correctly, EIGHT) in the last two months with a small group of Colombian Kingdom-Builders I've been challenged anew on the topic with the hope of gleaning some important lessons and helpful values for my own personal life.
Yes, eight kingdoms as I count... three political: one of an unknown antiquity, one a forty-plus year-old wonder and one a continued aspiration of a return to a former fourteenth century glory; three religious... one focused on self-realization, one focused on ritualistic practice and one focused on the presence of the Divine; and finally, two spiritual... one gloriously and universally sovereign, with the other insidiously depraved in its global dominance (for a fuller picture of the eight clic here to get the 'Inside Scoop', then email me for the password).
In reflecting upon these eight kingdoms the one operative word in each case is the word 'battle'. I think this one word best describes what I've encountered in these last few months, both on the team and also in my preparation for touching the ground in those kingdoms, not to mention the actual battle engagement we experience in each. Nevertheless, it's important to understand a 'battle' doesn't always necessarily imply arms of physical or psychological warfare per se. Of the eight kingdoms I count only two of the three political and one in particular of the three religious that I would say inherently and systematically used physical force as the principal means of battle. The other five were typically involved in some measure of an existential and personal battle so to speak. Why is this important? I see it important for at least three reasons.
First, it reminds me kingdoms are first and foremost invisible and therefore built through measures largely ethereal, but no less real. If I'm to grow and become something better than I am at present, battling onward so to speak to greater maturity, a person of greater personness in full measure, it's going to happen principally through ethereal and spiritual manners, e.g. meditation, prayer and contemplative solitude with my Creator God as Sustainer, Provider and Redeemer of my soul.
Second, and very importantly, any and all past, present and ethereal kingdoms will leave their most lasting legacy upon humanity when, and only when they are characterized by unconditional love in diverse manner of expression. Actually, if you haven't guessed it by now one of the two spiritual kingdoms is the very Kingdom of God most aptly characterized by this kind of love in first regard.
Third, and finally I end by giving just one little glimpse into one of the eight kingdoms (again, if you want to hear about the others, email me for the password and clic here)... the modern kingdom-in-the-making wonder of the United Arab Emirates, that new unified kingdom of seven Arab kingdoms allied into one with the express goal of not only 'battling' against the uninhabitable elements in which they find themselves, but also seemingly great historical odds to produce something the world awes at anew with each passing year. This is a kingdom-in-the-making not only demonstrating the important value of 'mankind united' and what he's able to achieve through unity, but also likewise begging the question of the insidious, sometimes virtually undetectable arrogance of man's achievement. I thought of this double-edged sword from the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa and prayed "Lord, are we headed full-circle to those early years of the great Tower of Babel?" Really?! The tallest building, the biggest and highest fountain, the largest commercial mall on earth, etc, etc. Is this the kind of kingdom that leaves the world a lasting legacy that really matters when it’s all-said-and-done?
Ok, this seems to be a good starting place for deeper reflection. I might want to add the idea of ‘power’ for it seems to me a kingdom is not a kingdom until the issue of power is involved. And yet another interesting thought offered interrogatively... "Once a 'kingdom' always a kingdom?" Stated a bit differently, "Does a 'kingdom' ever really come-n-go as a 'kingdom'?"
Having recently touched the ground of no less than eight kingdoms (yes you read correctly, EIGHT) in the last two months with a small group of Colombian Kingdom-Builders I've been challenged anew on the topic with the hope of gleaning some important lessons and helpful values for my own personal life.
Yes, eight kingdoms as I count... three political: one of an unknown antiquity, one a forty-plus year-old wonder and one a continued aspiration of a return to a former fourteenth century glory; three religious... one focused on self-realization, one focused on ritualistic practice and one focused on the presence of the Divine; and finally, two spiritual... one gloriously and universally sovereign, with the other insidiously depraved in its global dominance (for a fuller picture of the eight clic here to get the 'Inside Scoop', then email me for the password).
In reflecting upon these eight kingdoms the one operative word in each case is the word 'battle'. I think this one word best describes what I've encountered in these last few months, both on the team and also in my preparation for touching the ground in those kingdoms, not to mention the actual battle engagement we experience in each. Nevertheless, it's important to understand a 'battle' doesn't always necessarily imply arms of physical or psychological warfare per se. Of the eight kingdoms I count only two of the three political and one in particular of the three religious that I would say inherently and systematically used physical force as the principal means of battle. The other five were typically involved in some measure of an existential and personal battle so to speak. Why is this important? I see it important for at least three reasons.
First, it reminds me kingdoms are first and foremost invisible and therefore built through measures largely ethereal, but no less real. If I'm to grow and become something better than I am at present, battling onward so to speak to greater maturity, a person of greater personness in full measure, it's going to happen principally through ethereal and spiritual manners, e.g. meditation, prayer and contemplative solitude with my Creator God as Sustainer, Provider and Redeemer of my soul.
Second, and very importantly, any and all past, present and ethereal kingdoms will leave their most lasting legacy upon humanity when, and only when they are characterized by unconditional love in diverse manner of expression. Actually, if you haven't guessed it by now one of the two spiritual kingdoms is the very Kingdom of God most aptly characterized by this kind of love in first regard.
Third, and finally I end by giving just one little glimpse into one of the eight kingdoms (again, if you want to hear about the others, email me for the password and clic here)... the modern kingdom-in-the-making wonder of the United Arab Emirates, that new unified kingdom of seven Arab kingdoms allied into one with the express goal of not only 'battling' against the uninhabitable elements in which they find themselves, but also seemingly great historical odds to produce something the world awes at anew with each passing year. This is a kingdom-in-the-making not only demonstrating the important value of 'mankind united' and what he's able to achieve through unity, but also likewise begging the question of the insidious, sometimes virtually undetectable arrogance of man's achievement. I thought of this double-edged sword from the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa and prayed "Lord, are we headed full-circle to those early years of the great Tower of Babel?" Really?! The tallest building, the biggest and highest fountain, the largest commercial mall on earth, etc, etc. Is this the kind of kingdom that leaves the world a lasting legacy that really matters when it’s all-said-and-done?
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