By Bruce Smith
On a recent Sunday Pastor Laura shared thoughts on the meaning of “Kingdom” in the second line of the Lord’s Prayer. We pondered what such a kingdom might look like here on earth and agreed that it didn’t include castles and moats. Instead, various members volunteered ideas such as peace, enough food, clean water, friendship, adequate housing, and equality. The list, of course, could be extended. We might all agree that it would be a time of thoroughgoing happiness far different than what we witness in our daily lives.
Returning home, I happened to notice one of Jeanne’s favorite Picasso prints hanging on our wall. You can see it above. While the official title is “La Ronde de la Jeunesse” (Dance of the Youth), I saw it as “Kingdom Dance.” I imagined it presenting people of all different colors joyously joining hands and dancing wildly together in celebration of peace. Those bouquets of flowers held high in their hands symbolizing the restored earth’s abundance and beauty? And in the center is the dove of peace, the peace that is so lacking in our personal, community and world so much of the time. And that dance itself, isn’t it as wild and ecstatic as we might wish in a restored perfect kingdom? The figures are bursting with happiness that’s shared in a circle of equality and friendship. The image made me feel hopeful that it was a glimpse of what having “Thy Kingdom Come” might be like.
As enticing as this image is, it unfortunately, won’t come easily. But we can each do what we can to build that kingdom and see each other and the people we meet as potential dance partners. While performing acts that bring that kingdom a little closer, maybe we can even dance a few steps in celebration. Father Leo Proxell, in a recent column, was thinking similar thoughts when he wrote. “So, in this holy time of summer light and warmth, enjoy wandering through God’s good creation and live that goodness inherent in your life. Share it with others by way of joyful giving of your time and talent and treasure for building up of the Kingdom of God that we are all part of.”
May you enjoy the summer and as Father Leo might also say, “May His Kingdom Come.”