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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Tribute to Rumi


Keep walking, though there’s no place to get to.
Don’t try to see through the distances. That’s not
for human beings.
Move within, but don’t move the way fear makes
you move.
Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened.
Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

I can’t believe that more a thousand centuries ago a poet named Rumi could think such thoughts in his day and age.

I found this poem and set it in a nice font and framed it for my wall. I love every bit of it. “Today we wake up empty and frightened…” I don’t know about you but there are days when I don’t relish what might come down the pike at me, and I’m empty until I refill my prayer tank. And I try to no longer to let fear rule me.

“Let the beauty we love be what we do.” That sounds simple enough, kind of like “Be the change you want to see in the world.” But the beauty I love is in the world around me, in landscapes, in people, in beagles and kittens, and my question is: How do I DO that? I want to believe that the beauty I love the most is this: one human being connecting with another human being, and THIS I can do.

When you’re frightened, Rumi says, don’t go to your hideaway and read a book. Create something. Communicate with the air, the notes, the music of living.

And my favorite: “There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” The idea that I can pay homage to the Creator in hundreds of ways pleases me. I love my homeland, I love my life, I love my family—there are hundreds of ways to show honor to them.

I dearly love this poem. It seems a fitting way to start my Sunday. God bless you all.
Chris Alba

16 comments:

Dave King said...

The thoughts are almost overpowering.

big Jenn said...

Thank you for this I love Rumi. Perfect this morning. jeNN

Syd said...

Rumi is awesome. I was introduced to him by a zen friend. Thanhs for sharing.

Nessa said...

This is a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing it.

Sunny Sunday #7 - Say a Sunny Thank-You

It's Sunday - Do You Know Where You Are?

Karen said...

Good morning, and thank you, Chris, for this. It is a thought-provoking piece, and as you said, a wonderful way to begin this Sunday. I'm sitting here listening to the sounds of a healthy baby. Talk about kissing the ground!

Blessings to you.

Anonymous said...

Its Superb.Thank You for sharing a post on this poem.Oh! I loved the thought and saying it the precise way...."there are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground"..beauty. Now i know, am doing ok.

Anonymous said...

Forgot to say..have a great Sunday. God Bless.

Dianne said...

Excellent, I will carry this one with me while I face the fearsome radio recording session! Ha!

Shadow said...

oh chris, thank you so very much for sharing this here so i too can feel the beauty of his words...

Brian Miller said...

let the beauty we love be what we do...love that line...this was a great way to start a sunday. i hope you have a great one!

Rosaria Williams said...

Beautiful thoughts. I discovered Rumi late in my life, when I needed his thoughts the most.

Enjoy the lovely sunshine. We are soaking it in by hours-ful, enough to last us a few winter months.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Anonymous :) said...

Don't move the way fear makes you move. I love that!

Dulçe ♥ said...

This is si precious!

Scott W said...

I love Rumi's writings. He so eloquently expresses the search for the divine.

Enchanted Oak said...

joey has sent you a link to a blog:

'There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground' is enough to keep me going for the rest of my life. Thanks, Rumi, and thanks, Chris. I love you. joey

Beth Niquette said...

How very wise. Thank you for sharing these thoughts--I needed them this day.