Week Twenty-Nine: Kingdom of God, Now and Not Yet. July 16 – Glimpses of the Kingdom
We awaken to the divine not by escaping the world, but by seeing it as it truly is—transparent to God. Cynthia Bourgeault
Gregg’s Reflection
Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God coming near, yet it has never fully arrived. It is still breaking in 2000 years later. We live in the Now and Not Yet.
Walking the mountain trails near our home, I’m often struck by the small wonders along the way — wildflowers pushing through rocky soil, tiny leaves already turning red in late summer, birds flitting through the aspens. These glimpses of beauty remind me that God’s Kingdom is always breaking into our lives, often in ways that seem almost hidden — in the quiet synchronicities, the unexpected kindness of a friend, or the love that radiates from those anchored in grace.
These moments pull me out of the loops of my own thoughts and into the present, where my mind quiets and my heart opens. It is only here, in the now, that I truly encounter God. When I notice these flashes of beauty, I am reminded that the spiritual life is not about manufacturing God’s presence but about waking up to it, over and over again.
Like the path through the aspens, our journey is made up of both ordinary steps and moments of breathtaking clarity. The glimpses God gives us are not the whole picture, but they are enough to keep us walking, trusting that the same Spirit who shows up in beauty will guide us through whatever lies ahead.
Scripture
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:9
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Psalm 34:8
Ancient Quotes
The soul is like a window, clean and bright; it lets in the light of God’s presence when free from the dust of worldly cares.
Gregory of Nyssa
Modern Quotes
The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot’s Little Gidding
We awaken to the divine not by escaping the world, but by seeing it as it truly is—transparent to God.
Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Way of Knowing, p. 53
Journaling Prompts
- Recall a recent moment of beauty or kindness that stopped you in your tracks. What did it reveal to you about God?
- How do you typically recognize when you are in the present moment?
- What practices help you stay attentive to the glimpses of God’s Kingdom in your daily life?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 29 Reflection: Kingdom of God/Now and Not Yet