The branches

"Jesus said, 'What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.'" - Luke 13.18-9

First Things First, one of our famous slogans, often cited, rarely understood.

"First see ye, the kingdom of God". In Matthew's gospel, he writes, "the kingdom of heaven", and for the fellowship, I find that most fitting. Originally, the Big Book said that we had found a piece of heaven, but a Catholic priest, who was one to edit the book, replaced "heaven" with "utopia". And how serendipitous is that? When we put first things first, when we work our program first, and then enjoy the fellowship second, we really do find the peace that resides within the kingdom. "For the kingdom of God is not eating or drinking, it is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14.17)

We find reward; the sheaves that we come back rejoicing with, after going to the fields in tears to collect them (Psalm 126). I did not put first things first, and I failed because of that. I put my passions first, and now there are at least two women in the fellowship whom I at this time cannot work with; two people who will not find protection from me, because of my defects of character, because I chased after someone who is connected to them. This is not what I had come for. This is not what we have all worked so hard to achieve and then maintain.

Now I go out into the fields weeping, and I hope that with first things first, I will soon be restored, and will have my bounty, which is the kingdom of heaven, because this time I have taken it too far, that now I shall only be comforted through works.