Light of Hope

There is a story about a youth

Who lived in a land of darkness and in this land

No one had ever seen the Light.

This youth was different than his friends;

In the quiet of the endless darkness

He would hear whispers

That seemed to originate from within his heart.

These whispers urged him to climb the mountains

That surrounded his home and wait.

For many years, this youth gave little thought

To the inner voice and its promise.

He continued his everyday affairs

And at the end of the week, as was the custom,

Would indulge every sensory whim.

Finally, after years of endless pleasures,

In the midst of a drunken stupor

He was awakened by the inner voice.

You choose darkness to the Light

You are foolish.

With the sunrise

Is the promise of a new day.

And with these words the drunkenness left.

Impulsively this youth began to run toward the mountains.

With all the urgency of a lover

In flight to his beloved,

He scaled the mountains

And began to wait.

After many hours, the silence was broken

And the inner voice commanded.

Turn toward the east.

The Light shall be revealed

And you will know the promise

Of your Lord.

And amidst the darkness of his world,

Gradually, the Light was revealed-

Ray after ray.

And from that moment

He was aware of his own full potential.

As this first sunrise was heralded

By faint rays of Light,

So, hope is eternal, proclaiming

That today will be brighter.

Although this world is filled with darkness,

Hope waters the heart of each traveler.

For He/She that created the darkness

Also created the Light;

Darkness and Light follow each other,

And in each heart a candle is waiting

To be caressed and rekindled-

By the Light of Eternity.

O spiritual traveler, remember

As you pray each evening

Climb the mountain of your desires;

And in the morning

Your lips shall be caressed by Sunlight.

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Check-out my two books: Sufism for Western Seekers: Path of the Spiritual Traveler in Everyday Life and The Ferryman’s Dream.  Both books are available through Amazon.com or local bookstore.