reciprocate

Surah 30 verses 20-24

20 Among his signs is this,
that he created you from dust; and then, behold, humanity scattered (far and wide).

21. And among his signs is this,
That he created for you mates from among yourselves that you may live in tranquility with them and he has put love and mercy between your hearts: Surely in that are signs for those who reflect.

22. And among his signs
is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors: surely in that are signs for those who know.

23. And among his signs
is the the sleep that you take by night and by day, and the livelihood you make out of his bounty: Surely in that are signs for those who listen.

24. And among his signs,
he shows you the lightening, by way of both fear and hope, and he sends down rain from the sky and with it gives life to the earth after it is dead: Surely in that are signs for those who are wise.


What are we doing here on earth? In our rush to achieve, be successful, to accumulate more of what we already have too much of, we do not have time to stop and reflect. How do we reciprocate all that God has provided for us?

Rumi writes in the Mathnavi

Not a moment passes without your soul struggling with its own death, so in that struggle look to your faith!

Your life is like a purse filled with Gold; every day and night sees the money changer counting out the coins.

God counts the coins and gives to us freely, until the purse is emptied and the eclipse of death appears.

If you keep taking away from the mountain, without putting anything back, then the mountain will one day disappear from that one-sided transfer.

So, then put an equal amount of breath back for every one you take, so you can obey the verse "fall down in worship and draw yourself near" for in that way you will gain what you seek.

----Mathnavi III, 123-127.

If we stop and reflect, we will see the beauty God has created....

"For but an instant
a setting sun transfigures
with gold
a burnt land"
  -----Hakyo Ishida

Perhaps then, we can be grateful and reciprocate....perhaps humanity can work together to create harmony, justice and peace and restore beauty back to this earth............and in the process fill our lives with meaning and our souls with happiness.........