BRINGING IN THE KIN-DOM by Esther Nelson

I’ve mentioned before that I’m quite the fan of Jim Rigby, one of the current ministers at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. Jim writes a short column four or five times a week and posts them on Facebook.  I, along with many others, follow him there; however, I’ve also begun to join the Sunday morning service at St. Andrew’s via Zoom.

As a preface to the Sunday morning services I’ve attended, Jim gives a short explanation of his use of the word “kin-dom” instead of kingdom, fully acknowledging that the word kin-dom was coined by Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz (1943- 2012), a Cuban-American, Mujerista theologian. (Mujer is the Spanish word for woman.)

“The key aspect of Mujerista Theology is that we, as Latinas, needed to have a theology and feminist movement where we are at the center, and not the Other, [achieved] by working within the subjective frameworks of all Latinas.” It must include community (always diverse), the reality of each Latina’s experience, and justice. Justice within a Mujerista framework is understood as liberation, not equality. Mujeristas do not “squash our brothers and sisters in struggles in order to be made ‘equal’ with dominant groups.” (Extracted from https://www.tumblr.com/wocinsolidarity/63296801489/what-is-mujerista-and-what-is-mujerista)

Use of the word kingdom reflects a hierarchical, elitist position. Kin-dom, on the other hand, reminds us that we are part of a whole that binds all life together. As we move in the direction of peace and justice towards kin-dom, we must be inclusive. How? Through dialogue and conversation (listening to all voices) as well as paying attention to the various and multiple contexts we inhabit. 

Propositional and absolute theology (often reflected in creeds) suffers from rigor mortis. Jesus purportedly said, “…no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined” (Mark 2:22). Clinging to the skeletal remains of our creedal past (an old wineskin) will not hold the refreshing new wine as we focus our energy on creating a kin-dom in the here and now.

Jim began one of his recent sermons saying, “So much of our nation has imploded. So many people I’ve talked with recently are overwhelmed with sadness and grief.” He emphasized the importance of love—recognizing everyone’s humanity, followed by the understanding that we are all inextricably connected. My neighbor’s plight is my own. Quite a contrast from the “dog-eat-dog” mentality we’re constantly exposed to in our competitive, capitalistic society.

Jim referred to the recent assassination attempt on the former president’s life. “It was a tragic event.” However, “we do not have the right to scapegoat.” This tragedy has been turned into hatred which was obvious at the Republican National Convention where Hulk Hogan made an appearance saying, “They tried to kill my people.” Jim asks the obvious question, “Who is this they?” The “they” are immigrants, transgender people, and those who find themselves pregnant and overwhelmed. In other words, the weak, the oppressed, and the vulnerable.

When we re-route pain from our grief into anger and hatred, we play into this “dog-eat-dog” world.  And so, Jim reminded the congregation that Jesus in the Beatitudes (gospel of Matthew) said, “Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted.” Our shared humanity insists that we feel grief for all—the planet and all its inhabitants. 

Especially egregious, according to Jim, was the former president’s response to having dodged the bullet.  “Proof,” he said, “that God is on my side.” Really? What about the bullet that took the life of somebody in that audience? What about the bullets that have killed school children and other innocent citizens going about their own business? Arrogant, yes, but ultimately sadly pathetic that the former president has such a constricted, inhumane, self-serving vision.

Life is all about change and transition. What really belongs to us? Ultimately, nothing. However, while living in the here and now, we can bring in the kin-dom by choosing to love, not to hate.  One of the ways we can love is to support political candidates who care about the “common good,” not putting more wealth into the overstuffed pockets of the well-heeled few. 

So many of us live in a perpetual state of  anger, hate, and numbness—emotions that mask grief.  We cannot heal from second-hand emotions such as anger, hate, and numbness. Grief must be acknowledged and felt in order to make our way to that treasured place of love.

From Wikipedia: “Interbeing is a philosophical concept and contemplation practice rooted in the Zen Buddhist tradition, notably proposed by [the Vietnamese monk] Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022). It underscores the inter-connectedness and interdependence of all elements of existence. It informs ethical living, mindfulness, and compassionate actions.”

Nothing exists separately from anything. If one of our human or non-human family suffers, we (whether we admit it or not) suffer with them. “Through my love for you, I want to express my love for the whole cosmos, the whole of humanity, and all beings. By living with you, I want to learn to love everyone and all species. If I succeed in loving you, I will be able to love everyone and all species on Earth… This is the real message of love.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh, Teachings on Love

I recently spent a few glorious days on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. Most of the shells on the beach were broken—a reminder of the living sea creatures they once were. Our individual lives are often tragic and broken. Beauty, though, can be found in the whole of life. 

To be able to see wholeness and beauty beyond the brokenness of the world is a gift. My vision is often blurry, however, am grateful to all my teachers who gently nudge me forward into kin-dom—Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, Jim Rigby, and Thich Nhat Hanh as well as my own lived experience in context with others in community.