The culture of Heaven and God’s Kingdom is a culture of sanity. It is a culture of sane, rhythmic living that is above and below all else characterized by Love. It is a culture that is not fear driven, but directed by what gives and sustains Life. It is a culture completely free of panic and disorder. It is a culture free of distraction, a culture that cultivates focus, present, and full experience. It is a culture of listening, receiving, and being known. It is like an immaculately tended garden. Every element is known and cared for according to its own needs and nature. Every element is carefully chosen and placed with an eye for its inherent beauty and the way it enhances the beauty of the whole.
The culture of Heaven and God’s Kingdom is a culture of patience without the pressure of need for immediate gratification. Craftsmanship and the long, intensive labour it requires flourishes in the society that does not hurry production, but loves the labour as much as the result. It is not a society of hurry, frantic driven need for results or sensation, or a lust for speed. All things are now and all that is now is abundance. Relationships are full. Full of love, full of recognition, full of good will, grace and presence. In the Kingdom of Heaven, Time is not running out because we live in Eternity – the continuous present moment. There is no end coming there, only more Life “every chapter better than the one before“. Life becoming more full, love becoming deeper, laughter becoming richer, fellowship becoming sweeter, skill becoming greater, beauty becoming brighter, understanding becoming more complete, goodness becoming stronger.
The culture of Heaven and God’s Kingdom is a culture of peace and all that peace produces – every art, craft, word, deed, interaction based in peace and in trust. No fear, no anxiety, no rumours of war, no threat of danger, no striving to prevail over another, no seeking advantage over someone else, no backbiting, gossip, or fear of being misunderstood, no accusations. In that prevailing peace, the culture of Heaven and the Kingdom, is a society debt-free. No one owes anyone else anything but the debt of Love, and that is fully and freely given. No one is afraid of each other. Imagine what that culture is like.
It is not only possible to cultivate the qualities of Heaven where we are, it is in fact our calling. To cultivate the society of Heaven in the midst of this world is what it means to build the Kingdom. “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” We are meant to be actively engaged in this every day. It is our heritage and our birthright as citizens of Heaven not just for later in a new world where everything is right but in this present hour where sometimes it feels like everything is wrong. Today in this very hour we can choose to breathe in the sanity and peace of Heaven and breathe out something of its beauty, its goodness, its truth. Today I can make that choice of how I will live, by whose rules I will be ruled. Today I can choose to be chained to the shadows, or willfully recognise that I can in fact live beyond them. Choose this Day.
All three images here are (c) Lancia E. Smith and used with her express permission for Cultivating.
Lancia E. Smith is an author, photographer, business owner, and publisher. She is the founder and publisher of Cultivating Oaks Press, LLC, and the Executive Director of The Cultivating Project, the fellowship who create content for Cultivating Magazine. She has been honoured to serve in executive management, church leadership, school boards, and Art & Faith organizations over 35 years.
Now empty nesters, Lancia & her husband Peter make their home in the Black Forest of Colorado, keeping company with 200 Ponderosa Pine trees, a herd of mule deer, an ever expanding library, and two beautiful black cats. Lancia loves land reclamation, website and print design, beautiful typography, road trips, being read aloud to by Peter, and cherishes the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and George MacDonald. She lives with daily wonder of the mercies of the Triune God and constant gratitude for the beloved company of Cultivators.
Leave a Reply
A Field Guide to Cultivating ~ Essentials to Cultivating a Whole Life, Rooted in Christ, and Flourishing in Fellowship
Enjoy our gift to you as our Welcome to Cultivating! Discover the purpose of The Cultivating Project, and how you might find a "What, you too?" experience here with this fellowship of makers!
“Today I can choose to be chained to the shadows, or willfully recognise that I can in fact live beyond them.”
So true.
Thank you, Heather. It is always about choice. 🙂 Blessings to you.
Lancia – I was drawn to this posting first by the image of the bridge over the River Cam ( if I am correct ). I took the same shot but from an angle a bit to the left of yours so that I have the bridge, the three circular openings and they are reflected in the water – almost looking like completed circles. It spoke to me of “faith, hope, and love” and our choices – the ones you also mirror in your piece here. And over all of them, the One who woos us through – Living Water.
Wonderful and encouraging thoughts from you. Thanks, as always!
Lynn
Thank you, Lynn. It is the river Cam. What a beautiful insight of our choices and His love for us over Living Waters! Bless you!
How can there be only four comments here? Millions of people should read this!
Your perspective is delightful and encouraging.
Thanks, Sandi. I appreciate your kind remarks. Blessings to you!