Compassion : A missing ingredient

Without fear, we are able to see more clearly our connections to others. 
Without fear, we have more room for understanding and compassion. 
Without fear, we are truly free.
- Thich Nhat Hanh

This has been on my mind for many months and today, I witnessed something that led to a series of thoughts. So here I am, making an attempt to explore the issue, mostly for personal reasons - to gain some clarity and get it off my mind. 

I sat amongst random people at mosque this time round, listening to this lady give a lecture on good character and the feeling of not being able to raise questions unsettled me. A lady with a child sat next to me and naturally, he began to talk to himself as he played with the cars he'd brought from home. "Keep quiet or else God will grow thorns on your tongue!" She said to him. Moments later, he began to explore the area and she got mad, again - "sit still or else God will grow thorns in your feet." 

Now, somebody tell me why the One who is known and praised through more than 99 Glorious names, some of which are The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate, The Most Sublime; and the One who takes care of the little insects, the plants, the stars and the universe, why... Why would such an Entity want to cause pain to the feet of a three year old? Surely He wouldn't; but the child doesn't know that, does he? 

It's fair to say that fear is man made. However, if love prevails all and if love can overcome everything negative, then why do we feel the need to instill fear in everyone; and in these little fresh minds that can soak up all the good we present before them, with love? 

How we speak to children becomes their inner voice when they grow up. Naturally they grow up with a fearful relationship with the Creator whereas He is the Most Loving. Logically, there's no fear as such when you are in the company of the one you love.

People go to the mosque, church etc to seek people that will help take them closer to their higher purpose. But sometimes all I hear is people addressing the little children with such aggression and it's needless to say how they converse with the rest of the community - all in the name of correcting wrongs. We often forget that we are dealing with dignified human beings who have delicate souls, hearts, emotions and feelings. They are not inanimate objects on a factory belt, where they can be thrown around, cleaned and polished so that ultimately, a perfect product comes out of it.

It genuinely unsettles my heart when I see these things happening. So my question is, where is the compassion? Where is the kindness? Where is the love?Where is the genuine concern for another human being? Isn't a community supposed to be like a giant hug for your soul? A sanctuary. A place of growth. A place of comfort.  

Each of us want to feel love, even if it's at the basic level. And when we give out some love, we receive it as a gift - that's just the way the universe works. 

So, really...

How can we help develop the inner voice of little children when we are constantly saying no to everything they do? 

How can we possibly grow together if we are creating fear in everyone's minds? 

I say, let's look beyond it and shift our focus to the bigger, and brighter picture. Let's plant seeds of kindness everywhere we go, and make our contribution to the world.

Stay blessed :)

Questions. Dreams. Happiness

Today, I have questions.

We strive for peace and contentment, but when will we get there? 

We see ourselves in a better position in the future, but what are we doing about it right now? 

Are we forgetting to live in the 'now' because we are too worried about how things will pan out in the future? 

What's stopping us from being content now? 

We all have a thousand things that we want to do, myself included. But what are we doing about all of that?

Sometimes, we point to external factors that supposedly don't 'let us' do what we want to do, that come in the way of being happy and at peace. However, the blocks are within ourselves, actually. Some of us have a hard time letting go whilst the rest of us wait for a 'perfect' moment to do something that makes us happy. Let's do more of what makes us happy because in the end if we are not happy, what's the point of it all, really? 

Real power does lie within us, we only attract what we put out. And so, let's put out all the good so that only good can come back to us. Let's really live each day and fill them with some happiness.  

Be like a beeworker

"You learn something every day if you pay attention." ~Ray LeBlond

I love curiosity in human beings; and even more in children. My little nephews (7 and 4) came up with some very interesting questions this evening along the lines of the creation of insects and we brainstormed on the possibilities of why a bee would be created. The older one suggested that they’ve been created so we can study their lives and learn something from them; that inspired us to read up on the bees. Much to our amazement, there was some truth in his statement and this is what came out of our little session; something I would like to put up as well to serve as a reminder.

It’s beautiful to know that we can learn something from every creation.

 Stay blessed :)

A beautiful soul, now a beautiful memory

“Seashells remind us that every passing life leaves something beautiful behind."

Today marks a year since her passing and yet, it feels like last night when I received a phone call informing me of what had happened. 

As I sit on her swing, 20 years of beautiful memories flash by my eyes. From playing "restaurant" and "salon" with her to watching the sunsets and the birds, talking to her about the beauty of the universe we live in, learning about her struggles and experiences back in the 50's and to just peacefully sitting in silence. 

When I came back, I expected to feel a very deep, an endless pit of emptiness and pain in my heart, and I did. But soon after, that big hole of emptiness was filled with a peace that made me smile. Perhaps it was all the memories or perhaps it's because we never truly lose someone when they pass away. The concept of loss has been complexly redefined by man when in reality, they're just crossing a bridge that every one of us will too, eventually. 

So I think what I'm trying to say is that the people that have supposedly moved on, are still with us; the connection is still alive. We can give them gifts like we did before, just with a more lasting effect this time; an eternal gift so to say. Let's do some good out there in their name and bring joy to their souls and in turn, to ours. 

If we are able to take lessons from their lives, their life was worth living. If their lives make us better people, their job is done. It's beautiful when I think of what I can take from my grandmother; and it's even more beautiful to know that she taught by living as opposed to speaking or telling.

So let's open the shutters to our hearts, plant some trees, support those who need it and do all the good we can.

Stay blessed :)