The reality is that around the world 1 billion people live in slums. The reality is that 2 billion people, that's a third of the world's population exist on less that $2 (US) a day. The reality is that people in our own towns, communities, schools and colleges live in loneliness, are bullied, excluded and just not loved by the people around them.

The dream is different to this reality. Our dream is based on the present and future reality of God's kingdom. When Jesus walked around the Palestinian countryside his enduring cry was "the kingdom of God is near" (Mk 1v15).  He wasn't talking about a Kingdom like England, ruled over by our illustrious Queen Elizabeth II. Jesus was a Jew and his message of the coming of God's kingdom meant the arrival of God's long awaited rule of justice, compassion, peace and relative prosperity. A kingdom directly governed by God's priorities and concerns, not those of mankind.

Jesus' life and teaching illustrated what God's Kingdom could begin to look like on earth. Loving people, establishing peace, serving the poor and having a compassionate heart are all part and parcel of how Jesus brought God's Kingdom to earth. Jesus highlights that as we seek first the Kingdom of God we cannot ignore the poor and the broken. Significantly Jesus' life, death and resurrection provides a hope that this dream of justice, equality and peace can begin to be realised.

As we seek the Kingdom we do the works of the kingdom; that is we act like Jesus. As we act like Jesus we're glorifying God and changing our world. Together, as we work to meet the needs of those in poverty, those who are broken and hurting, we begin to see glimpses of what God's kingdom looks like. And this is our dream, that firstly God would be glorified and that His Kingdom would be present in our lives and world.