Reckoning, I reckon

Subdued morning after mid-term elections. I spell out numbers on a check, taking up the entire space, which I will mail to the Lane County Tax Collector. I feel poor.

Tim, in the other room, goes about morning chores, somber. Yet, for me, there’s a strange lightheartedness brimming. I’m mainly agreeing the people and issues which were victorious last night are opposites from what we’d have chosen. Big education, especially, got a shot in the arm here in Oregon. Big casino gambling, too. Taxes and more taxes will burden us further, probably.

I’m thankful, though. As I partook of our habitual Tuesday evening class at MSC, I remembered the point of a prayer I love: “Your kingdom come.”

It’s interesting. The Bible mentions few political victories the Jews enjoyed. It leaves out the one still celebrated at Hanukkah. As if beating those we see as oppressors is not so much the point God meant to get across.

He gives everybody victory sometimes. This morning I’m happy for friends of mine who descended into despair both years President Bush was elected. Today they get their turn to dance for joy. Maybe God is saying through their triumph the right way to go is with these views. Heaven knows when my perspective has “won” things haven’t turned out all goodness and roses.

In the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, if our teacher Ron interprets it correctly (I think he does), the opening entreaty looks toward a distant future with joyful longing. It’s saying, “I want that kingdom in which God’s purposes will be done here, on earth, as they are in heaven.” No matter who’s in charge, we don’t see this happening yet, or any time soon. But I can keep praying for it, as country-bumpkin poor as I become, believing it will take place. Jesus, the mustard-seed king, will one day rule over all.