The Last Kingdom

I started watching this serial few weeks ago. I like it a lot .. because it contain history, action and adventure. But that's not the reason I am writing this blog .. 

In the serial, the fight is all about two key issues; Land and Church/God.

Uthred is fighting for his ancestral land which he has lost. He is
always pulled into moral conflict that he has to accept the Church/God or else his morality is questionable (although there are enough church going people in the serial who do immoral things).   Uthred is always reminded that unless he accepts Church (which directly means God),  he is a heathen.  He challenges that assumptions again and again  and he says, "I am a warrior" and that's what I am suppose to do.

Recently, when I was asked why I did not go to the temple, I said I went for biking. This was a perplexing answer ... why I did not make temple a priority over biking.  I said, I did not feel the need to go to temple, I find it confusing. I do not understand what the priest is reciting and with all the noise in the background, there is no place to sit in silence ...  It seems more of a festival /carnival rather a place of contemplation. Do not misunderstand me, I do go to temple. However, when I go for biking or hiking alone, I do experience all that I expect in a temple. If all roads lead  to heaven and there are infinite paths, why we are always reminded to get bounded. Why we are reminded and sometimes made to feel guilty.

The name of the serial is also very appropriate, "The Last Kingdom" - it is the "I" the last kingdom in all of us (the Land and the Church/Temple) where all the struggles happen - it is where battles are fought. It is the warrior (Uthred or Arjuna) in you who is fighting alone in the battle. 

The following Native American poem touches like a soft wind.  It is the morning sun, it is the winds, the rain, the stars tell what I want to hear ..    

There are many rivers which lead to ocean. You have to find the one which takes you there. We may never reach the ocean but we should try it. I feel more at peace when I am alone in walks or biking. The calmness of nature, the early sunrise and the experiences that come with it helps me move few inches in this journey.


Each of us need to find his/her path - there is no right or wrong. It does not matter what others say ..  we should be clear in my mind and find our own path.