20. Already and Not Yet

But let us start with three simple aspects of the kingdom of God for our reflection.  

The kingdom of God is ushered in by people who react to what is going on around them in a certain way. 

The kingdom of God is no respecter of cultural laws, traditions or norms. It has its own code of ethics that rises above all human made concepts.  

The kingdom of God can be explored in all forms of art, as artists in one way or another, are interpreting it, or the lack of it, for us.

 And today we have some wonderful interpreters to join us – Helen and Leslie from Alissa’s meditation class, Anne from Green Gables and her viewing of the residential schools in PEI, Emily Carr, painter and adventurer who gave us perhaps her most famous painting The Indian Church (renamed Church at Yuquot Village by the Art Gallery of Ontario) and Pablo Picasso who brought the world a depiction of war in his painting Guernica after the destruction of the Spanish town for which the painting was named. 

 Our faith is an experiential faith, a lived-out faith, a practiced faith. And the kingdom of god is brought into being by none other than us. God has already created it, offered it to us, all its principles are in place, all of nature declares its wisdom and offers itself as inspiration. Our job is to open our eyes and see where it exists and then do our part to usher it along. 

 The kingdom of god, the kingdom of heaven is already, and not yet. 

Oh, God, what have I seen? Where have I been? Something has spoken to the very soul of me. Wonderful, mighty, not of this world. Chords way down in my being have been touched. Dumb notes have struck chords of wonderful tone. Something has called out of somewhere. Something in me is trying to answer.” 

— Emily Carr, reflecting on the experience of meeting with Lauren Harris and the Group of Seven after a fifteen year hiatus from her painting