Dependence and self-reliance

To character and success, two things, contradictory as they may seem, must go together - humble dependence on God and manly reliance on self.

Focus only on getting help, and we begin to lose our sense of resolve and self-control. Focus only on self-reliance, and we become arrogant and merciless. It is not an either/or choice.

We need to be both dependence and self-reliant.

It's a little like walking, in quick turns, we used both left and right in equal measure. Similarly, we can be aware of the steady flow of both our vulnerability and our inner strength. With both, we stride toward success while strengthening our character.

I am equally aware of my need for divine guidance and my own strong resolve.

Focus on the remedy

Don't find fault. Find remedy! (Henry Ford)

Faults can be glaring, as if a giant spotlight is shining on them. We ,make progress when we deliberately open our focus to include all the resources available to remedy our faults.
Brainstorming, we consider any possibility in the hope of finding one that is feasible.

Then, we give ourselves permission to experiment. It will take trail and error. We will learn from mistakes, but, even while making mistakes, we have broken free of the narrow focus on the fault alone.

So when you see a problem in part of your life, be quick to look for ways to remedy it, rather than focus solely on the problem.

note to AH

Stillness first

One's action ought to come out of an achieved stillness; not to be a mere rushing on.

Much of our busy-ness is just busy work. Once in a while, when we go on vacation or if we take a couple of sick days, we discover that the multitude of day-to-day tasks we hurry to complete can be set aside.

In the stillness, we find a creativity that often is sacrifice to the normal schedule. That creativity is aware of which decision and action really matter.
To rest and consider  - this is important to being human. Hurry begets more artificial rush and stress.

Stillness naturally yields wise action and contentment.

We have to have time to be still, to create a peaceful moment where we can think and ponder before deciding what we will do with our day.

Accepting yourself

To accept ourselves as we are means to value our imperfections as much as our perfections.


It's easy to celebrate our strengths, yet in many ways we we only see our strength in light of our weaknesses.

We usually discover our imperfections as we interact in community and see other's strengths.

Our flaws are precious. By... taking care of ourselves, and through the kindness of our loved ones, we protect our imperfections and see them as part of our vulnerability and humanity.

We find ways to care for others in the areas where they are imperfect.

We have to value both our flaws and our strengths.

To me my weaknesses are precious quirks, I can learn to laugh about them and care for them gently.

Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door. I will look for and consider new possibilities, even if they seems a little odd. It may lead to the new dawn I seek. @_@

This is the time for soul searching.

This is not the time for finger pointing, being arrogant, or exerting self-righteousness.
This is the time for humility, self-reflection, and bonding for the sake of God.

This is the time for being calm and collected but determined and focused.

This is the time to side with truth and ...justice.

This is the time of looking inward into our spiritual mirrors.

This is the time for reorientation of our thoughts and emotions.

There is a real danger at this time that our emotions might take over and our sense of balance and the balance of sense might be lost. But remember! Vultures are hovering over us to take advantage of us or even to use this opportunity to tear us apart.

Global injustice prevails. Law of jungle seems to have taken over. ‘Might is right’ is being used as the norm. Poor and the weak are suffering. Truth is being sacrificed at the altar of prejudice and hatred.

This is not the time to indulge in useless arguments.

This is the time to burry our differences once and for all, and demolish any physical or mental or religious barriers that divide us.

War is being thrust upon us. If we remain steadfast and united, Allah guarantees our victory. If we don’t, then we will be on our own. Then Allah will not help us, no matter how much we pray for His help.

The only course we should adopt is the course of unity and balance based on reason and not on emotion.

Let us learn from the Quran the meaning of Siraat-al Mustaqeem, the straight and the most balanced way. We must maintain balance. Otherwise, we will fall.

SEXT

Age cannot reach me where the veils of God have shut me in,
 For me the myriad births of stars and suns do but begin,
And here how fragrantly there blows to me the holy breath,
 Sweet from the flowers and starts and hearts of men
From life and death.

We are NOT old. O heart, we are NOT old.
 The breath that blows
The soul aflame is still a wandering wind
 That comes and goes
And the stirred heart with sudden raptured life a moment glows.

A moment here - a bulrush's brown head in the gray rain;
A moment there -  a child drowned and a heart quickened with pain;

The name of death, the blue deep heaven, the scent of the salt sea;
The spicy grass, the honey robbed from the wild bee

Awhile we walk the world on its wide roads and narrow ways,
And they pass by, the countless shadowy troops of nights and days
We know them not, O happy hearts, for you and I
Watch where within a slow dawn lightens up another sky

Expressing All

It is only expressing all that is inside that purer and purer streams comes.

It might feel safer to keep some of our thoughts inside. Yet, as with any creative process, our spiritual growth often requires us to face, acknowledge, and find safe ways to express all that is inside.

Anger, fear and regrets are emotion that seems too dark to share with anyone. "I'm fine", we say to ourselves and others.

Keep inside those feeling can block the flow of growth and change.

There are useful ways to work through our darkest feelings. We can journal, or talk with a safe friend or counselor.

There maybe a physical exercise that expresses it better than words. Once the internal feelings are released, fresh, renewed thinking can flow.

We need to acknowledge the place in our soul that seem blocked. We will look at these areas and listen for any feelings we need to express.