This is a counter intuitive suggestion. Can you imagine yourself piloting a small plane that is starting to turn upside down and then purposely letting go of the wheel? Most of us would tighten our grip and steer to correct the attitude of the plane. The problem is that many of the people who do that end up dead. In certain conditions we cannot trust our sensations and need to seek other more accurate means of guidance. Pilots find that darkness, bad weather or anything else that disables their ability to see the horizon will cause them to experience disorientation. To survive they have to turn to something outside their own inner sense of things. Modern planes have instruments that enable a pilot to tell which way is up and whether her plane is level. But a pilot has to know how to use them. Gene Hudson's research showed that "the average life expectancy of a non-instrument-rated pilot in instrument conditions was an impressive 178 seconds…"

Here's why. Our sense of spatial orientation comes from five systems in our bodies that all deliver their sensory information to the unconscious part of our brain. But four of the five systems are unable to tell the difference between gravity and centrifugal force. Only vision, the fifth source of spatial sensory input, can serve as a correcting check. When the horizon cannot be seen, the inner ear takes over to provide all sense of spatial orientation. The problem is that this sense data is wrong, Without the visual data to allow the unconscious brain to correct the other sensory data pilots feel like they are going straight when in fact they have begun to turn. This sensory drift compounds quickly such that in little more than a minute a pilot can be in a 30 degree turn and think he is still flying straight. If left uncorrected this course will turn into the graveyard spiral that has killed so many pilots. In his article Gene Hudson gives two imperatives - let go of the controls and learn to trust your instruments rather than your feelings. This is actual a rather good metaphor for our spiritual journey.

Our own sensations and desires can mislead us. If we do not keep our eyes on the horizon-that meeting place of heaven and earth- we will lose track of up and down, right and wrong. We will unconsciously steer ourselves into a spin. Sacrament, scripture and spirit are instruments of grace. They give us guidance and direction that is more accurate than that we can get from our own notions and sensations alone. Even when our outward vision is obscured we can travel safely if we keep our eyes on the instruments of grace.

If we turn to the story of Solomon we can see a movement from disorientation to level flight and then a steady climb to glorious heights. But it started with a willingness to learn and a trust in something beyond himself.

The kingdom that Solomon inherited from his father, David, was a large operation. Solomon was probably about twenty years old when he came to the throne. There were many aspects of governance to consider - political factions to balance, building programs to administer, military campaigns to plan and the host of other details that contributed to the general welfare of a nation. Solomon was both religious and responsible, so he felt the weight of caring for God's people and he desired to move in alignment with the will of God.

It was night, and the kingdom was sleeping. Solomon 's mind moved to that place where the conscious retreats and the haze of the day's feelings disperses. An angel offered Solomon his heart's desire as he slept. Someone else might have chosen power, or wealth, or simply a long life - any of these would have been perfectly understandable, But Solomon sights were set on something larger than himself and his own gratification.

In the dream Solomon admitted the limits of his vision, experience and abilities, "I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in." One senses Solomon's disorientation. He had come to the throne in the middle of a palace intrigue that left blood on the floor and animosity in the air. In the light of day various voices offered him competing views of the right way forward. Men who had served his father with distinction now plotted against him. Solomon's own thoughts and feelings must have veered one way and then another as he tried to sort out shifting allegiances and true reports from rumors and lies. Solomon knew he was already flying in heavy weather. But he had no instruments to indicate which way was up. In such an environment the mind plays tricks and even the body lies. Solomon knew that without a sense of direction more power was useless. If you don't know which way is up going faster may simply hurry your descent. Solomon knew that wealth couldn't buy even common sense much less discernment. So Solomon asked for wisdom--the ability to tell right from wrong; the means to steer the nation toward the vision that God had for them.

We need too need wisdom more than power and discernment more than wealth. Solomon was a king and yet he was able to admit that he didn't know which way was up. He was willing to open his mind and heart to God and desirous of seeing the world around him in a new way.

The parables of Jesus in the gospel according to Matthew challenge us to check our sense of how things are and then double check our instruments. We are flooded with sensory data- buy this, do that, go there. So many things seem important. Although we maintain a cultural myth to the contrary we cannot have it all and do it all. We have to chose which messages to attend and what actions we will take to discover the true horizon and fly right. If we want to make choices we will not later regret we have to be clear about what has the greatest value.

Even a small move in the right direction is an indication to God that we are ready to ripen, eager to grow. Our little intentions can be like the small mustard seed that through the mysterious power of God grows into something larger than we could ever have imagined.

What is it about the kingdom of God, the realm of the spirit, that is so valuable that a person would give up everything for it? The only way to know is to draw nearer…to come and see. The men who gave all that they had to buy the field or the pearl did not regret the lost of other things or other options. They were delighted with what they had discovered, as indeed we shall be if we reorient ourselves.

Our relationship with God is not unlike our relationship with a person. Growth and depth in relationships happens over time through commitment and fidelity. We become more aware of a person's character and nature as we pay attention to them and listen to their voice. We fall in love by spending time with one who loves us.

We learn of God's nature and character by reading Scripture. We pay attention and learn to listen though the regular practice of prayer. Our commitment and fidelity have outward and visible signs-we come to worship, we offer our talents for the benefits of others and we give for the spread of God's kingdom.

Nothing is of greater value than the kingdom of God. This parish is not the kingdom. But it is where we gather together to look toward the true horizon. This is where we learn to fly in formation and encourage one another on the journey. Saint James is a place we come for instrument training so that neither darkness nor storms will cause us to crash.

We are in an in between time. It is summer and we are worshipping in a temporary space. We are suspended between what was and what could be. Here in mid-air is the time to check our instruments, the time to consider course corrections.

Everything that is needed to cause ministry to blossom is hidden in our hearts and in our pockets. The yeast of the spirit was mixed in with the water of our baptism and it has been rising in us ever since. What would happen if we all committed ourselves to asking God for wisdom as Solomon did? What will it be like when we plant the seeds we have been holding to the side- when we allow our stewardship to grow like the mustard seed? We could finish funding the restoration of the church in a heartbeat. We could build a budget for next year that enables ministry to flourish rather than constraining it. Pearls, fields, yeast and seeds - the kingdom is like all these things and a hundred images yet to be discovered. We are so close..the kingdom is very near us, within us, close enough to touch if we just stretch.