It is hard to admit that the most important things in life will never be taught in school or told in a sermon. As much as they may seem obvious, one may never even contemplate or question anything except in the event of dreaded difficulty and painful experiences. It is mostly that time when we as humans may be naturally inclined to ask existential questions. The question of the kingdom is one which may be famously known and cited in every corner, yet many may not have personalized it and its meaning. Since our perception and reality is mostly based only on what we see with our eyes, that also becomes our limitation when it comes to seeing life in its totality.
For many, the mention of the kingdom automatically envisions a place where one must go or have a connection. When it comes to the saying that seek first the kingdom of God and the rest shall be granted to you, for those whose life experience relies only on external factors, they will definitely be inclined to seek the kingdom outside themselves and hoping to be rewarded with external and material things.
This creates another conundrum that brings more questions. When there is already an inherent limitation and misconception in seeking the kingdom, everything else thereof will be false. Hence, when one concludes that their material and external achievements are the results of having finally found the kingdom, there is a great mismatch between the external comfort and intrinsic experience of life. This often leads to the point that one may then again have to utilize the external possessions in trying to overcome and quiet the internal turmoil. Moreover, what more could be expected if every life started on the same foot and direction?
What if the kingdom is not even religious but a natural path that humans would naturally be inclined to grow into if there were no distractions from the teachings, myths and assumptions of the previous generations? The fact that there is a humanly constructed and established system should be the point of concern as that must be an ideology which is completely in conflict with nature’s order.
What if the kingdom is already within, and not externally nor has to be searched but recognized? What if the idea of its seeking is also already a distraction and a deception into seeking something that is already there and all it needs is to be recognized and acknowledged.
Humanity’s dilemma is that, even when it has progressed in some spheres, this is one area where it lacks progress. It is for the same reason that it continues to try to solve its problems with the same mentality and a set of beliefs or ideologies that brought it where it is right now.
It is its lack of accepting its failures that finds itself in a mess yet pretentiously goes on as if all is well. It is for the same reason that, even when it believes change is necessary, it refuses the fact that change can only happen when every one of its members changes themselves first. The same goes for the kingdom, that it is readily available, and it is patiently waiting for everyone to work on themselves in order to be deserving of it. For as long as that remains a fork in the road, the aimless search will continue as a dog that ceaselessly chases its tail.
*Uncommon Sense is published bi-weekly in the New Era newspaper with contributions from Karlos Naimwhaka. YouTube channel: Karlos Lokos
– karlsimbumusic@gmail.com