in us and in others

overcome:

to succeed in dealing with a problem.

to defeat an opponent and prevail.

i've been reading listening to your life by frederick buechner lately and this morning a paradigm shift washed over me when i read his words on overcoming.  it's easy to think of overcoming any number of life circumstances as a moment in time. i haven't overcome, oh and now i have overcome. the problem is over, i prevailed. 

buechner writes:

"and deep in my heart i do believe we shall overcome some day, by God's grace, by helping the seed of the kingdom grow in ourselves and in each other until finally in all of us it becomes a tree where the birds of the air can come and make their nests in our branches."

beautiful. and so familiar.

these words sent me straight to Matthew 13.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

the seed is overcoming even in all of the dark, underground moments as it sprouts and grows. 

the overcoming happens in the small, unnoticed, hushed ways of everyday.  the kind, steady, faithful moments of today are the overcoming moments of tomorrow. 

a meal for a friend, a morning run, offering forgiveness, the set up coffee pot, washed sheets, early prayer journaling, a letter in the mail, a heart-eyed text, seeking truth in God's word. 

overcoming becomes the process of helping the seed of the kingdom grow in ourselves and in each other. 

east library take over. it's so warm in there! so many windows! so much light! a lovely couple of hours. 

overcome:

the kingdom in us.  the kingdom in others.