The Kingdom of Heaven and Heathrow Airport

The Kingdom of Heaven and Heathrow Airport June 25, 2012

Perhaps the kingdom of heaven is a bit like Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, June 27 .

On that day:

  • I fly from Heathrow to NYC, ending my extended sojourn in the UK, and beginning my reentry into the US.
  • My nephew flies from Heathrow to Los Angeles
  • My nephew’s mother-in-law lands at Heathrow from Florida.
  • My son flies in from the Middle East mid-morning for two meetings at Heathrow and then back out again that evening for Berlin.
  • My daughter-in-law’s brother lands at Heathrow from Bogotá, Colombia for the funeral of their sister’s father-in-law.

Chances are none of us will see each other, although my nephew and I are trying to work out a meeting if possible, but we are in different terminals and I’ve just learned it will be quite difficult for us to get together in a secure area.

Just thought it fascinating the way the huge world of this extended family seemed to zoom in on Heathrow. I can also see how the fabled six degrees of separation would easily work for us–it would only take one or two steps away from the group at Heathrow on Wednesday to touch almost anyone alive right now.

We simply represent quite clearly the interconnectedness of the world.  And I think that is a means to teach us more about the hugeness of God who holds this whole creation together.  When we isolate ourselves, either by politics, gender, race, sexuality or theology or any other means, we may very well be moving away from the wholeness of the Godhead.

Perhaps the kingdom of heaven is a bit like Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, June 27, where members of this complex and extended family converge and disperse, each seeking to live faithfully to the light given, but each going in a radically different direction.


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