Kierkegaard as Poetry (Part 1)
Yes, It Is Nothing
But what does this mean, what am I to do, or what is the effort that can be said to seek, to aspire to God's kingdom?
Shall I see about getting a positioncommensurate with my talents and abilities in order to be effective in it?
No, you shall first seek God's kingdom.
Shall I give all my possessionsto the poor?
No, you shall /first/seek God's kingdom.
Shall I then go out and proclaimthis doctrine to the world?
No, you shall first seek God's kingdom.
But then in a certain senseit is nothing I shall do?
Yes, quite true, in a certain sense it is nothing.
In the deepest sense you shall make yourselfnothing, become nothing before God,learn to be silent.
In this silenceis the beginning,which is to seek first God's kingdom.
(From "Look at the Birds, Look at the Lily," by Kierkegaard, included in Without Authority, translated by Howard & Edna Hong; italics in original.)