If we have missed the kingdom of God, it is because we were too sure of where the kingdom of God is. 

Where is the kingdom of God? See there! There (only there) God's anointing rests. That is the truth (only truth). That is true faith. Without any doubt, that is God. The announcement of the kingdom, however, was precisely about breaking this kind of rigid certainty. It broke down boundaries safe within exclusive walls - and it was necessary to break them in love. When we are too certain about the kingdom, truth, and God, they can turn idols without even our knowledge. Holiness can be easily a privilege of the hypocrites.

Perhaps what we really miss is the heart and mind of Christ to understand the presence of the kingdom, truth, faith, and God. If we don't have the heart and mind of Christ, these may be deformed by biases and power equations, ideological rigidity, and spiritual pride.

Gratitude - Empty and Rich

Gratitude is not simply 'thank you' in words, nor is it in some symbols of flowers or gifts though they may be meaningful. Gratitude orients one's life towards the giver in reverence, and to the needy in kindness. Gratitude sprouts in freedom, and does not ask for slavish submissiveness, and aims for the growth of the receiver.

In religion, gratitude is not about saying 'thank you' repeatedly. God receives gratitude, not in our 'show-off' piety but in what we have made gracefully out of what we have received. A gratitude that wells up with enormous feeling towards God and makes us happy, but does not open our hearts to the needy is not the gratitude God desires.

Often, romanticised spirituality only serves to guard our own hypocrisy and injustice. A wonderland experience of what we prefer to do and practice, justified by our thinking about god and what may please him, often reflects our celebration of pride elitism and 'higher' holiness. We may construct the meaning for 'surrender' and 'sacrifice' accordingly.

Spirituality is not about thrilling emotions (even suffering can be a willful thrill for some, self accusation and being tortured under guilt can be soothing for some) while leaving the conscience untouched is merely self-indulgence in religious dress.