Rumi kicked my ass at the i-ching this morning. Guess that's as good a place as any to open this new space. My morning game. Picked up The Essential Rumi from the top of a pile of books in the top box in pile of boxes in the never ending ruble of my living room, where all good boxes go to live and die and hopefully, maybe, one day get unpacked and integrated into the larger ruble of my life.
Opened the end of my question wide and cut the pages with my thumb.
What do I most need to learn right now, I said.
Page 70.
Bismillah
It's a habbit of yours to walk slowly.
You hold a grudge for years.
With such heaviness, how can you be modest?
With such attachments, do you expect to arrive anywhere?
Be wide as the air to learn a secret.
Right now you're equal portions clay,
and water, thick mud.
Abraham learned how the sun and moon and stars all set.
He said, No longer will I try to assign partners for God.
You are so weak. Give up to grace.
The ocean takes care of each wave
till it gets to shore.
You need more help than you know.
You're trying to live your life in open scaffolding.
Say Bismillah, In the name of God
as the priest does with a knife when he offers an animal.
Bismillah your old self
to find your real name.
Thanks, Mr. Rumi. Anything else?
