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 position
commensurate 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 possessions
to the poor?
No, you shall first
seek God’s kingdom.
Shall I then go out and proclaim
this doctrine to the world?
No, you shall first
seek God’s kingdom.
But then in a certain sense
it is nothing
I shall do?
Yes, quite true,
in a certain sense
it is nothing.
In the deepest sense
you shall make yourself
nothing,
become nothing
before God,
learn to be silent.
In this silence
is 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.)